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FCALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING  BUR 

FERRY  BUILDING,   SAN  FRANCISCO 
R  HAMILTON  State 


.^^Xi 


San  Francisco] 


BULLETIN  No.  83 


-•,i:j;  .v^  "^'.- 


California 

Mineral  Production 

for  1917 


WITH  COUNTY  MAPS 


Please  return  this  item 
to  its  protective  enclosure. 

Thank  you  for  helping  to  preserve 
the  University's  research  collections 


CAimRNIA  STATE  FRIMTINa 

bacbamxSto 


in 


Ty  Of   CALIFOPNI/ 


CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU 

FERRY  BUILDING,  SAN  FRANCISCO 
FLETCHER  HAMILTON  State  Mineralogist 


5  01697  1841 


San  Francisco] 


BULLETIN  No.  83 


[August,  1918 


CALIFORNIA 

MINERAL  PRODUCTION 

FOR  1917 


WITH  COUNTY  MAPS 

COMPLIMENTS    9F 

arrCHER  HAMILTOM 

ST  Alt  MINER  ALOGiiT 
By  WALTER  W.  BRADLEY,  Mining  Statistician 


40593 


CALIFORNIA  STATE  PRINTING  OFFK  K 

SACRAIIENTO 

19  13 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Patce 

LETTER  Of  TRANSMITTAL 7 

INTRODUCTION    _-_    8 

Chapter  I. 

SUMMARY  OF   THE   illNEUAL   LN'DUSTRY    IN    CALIFORNIA   DURING   THE 

YEAR   OF    lillT ;t 

TAIU'I^ATIGN  OK  THE  MINERAL  PRODUCTION  SHOWING  COMPARATIVE 

AMOUNTS  AND  VALUES— 1916  AND  IHIT 11 

TABLE  SHOWING  COMPARATIVE  MINERAL  PRODUCTION  OF  THE  VARI- 
OUS COUNTIES  IN   CALIFORNIA  I-'OR  1916  AND  1917 12 

Chapter  II, 
FITELS    (HYDROCARBONS)  — 

Introductory    . 13 

Coal    13 

Natural  Gas   14 

Petroleum 17 

Chapter  III. 
METALS^ 

Intuoductoky    26 

Aluminum : 28 

Antimony    28 

Bismuth     29 

Cadmium    30 

Copper 30 

Gold    32 

Iridium.      (See  Platinum.) 

Iron    35 

Lead . 36 

ItS^IWNESE   37 

AQ..,^^^^num    40 

Nick    . 4') 

OSMIUM 41 

Palladium    41 

Platinum     41 

Quicksilver   43 

Silver    47 

Tin     50 

Tungsten    .50 

Vanadium 52 

Zinc 53 

Chapter  IV. 
STRUCTURAL  MATERIALS— 

Introductory .r,.t 

Asphalt .-,n 

Bitu.minous   Rock 06 

Brick  and  Tile 56 

Cement     58 

Chromite     6i 

Granite 64 

Lime    tS7 

Magnesite    -1 — f7 

Marble     72 

Onyx  and  Travertine 73 

Sandstone     __-. 74 

Serpentine 1 ^ 74 

Slate    75 

Stone — Miscellaneous     76 


4  TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 

Chapter  A'. 
INDUSTRIAL  MATERIALS—  Pa,e 

Introductory    83 

Asbestos    S4 

Barytes   S6 

Clay — Pottery ST 

Dolomite   SS 

Feldspar    : iiO 

Fluorspar 91 

Fuller's  Earth  'Jl 

Gems 92 

Graphite a3 

gypsum 94 

Infusorial  and  Diatomaceous  Earths 95 

Limestone 9" 

LiTHIA   98 

Mica 98 

Mineral  Paint 99 

Mini'p.al  ■\\"ATEit  lilo 

PlIOSPHATEf. l*)! 

Pumice  and  \olcanic  Ash 101 

Pykitf  l*)^ 

ijiMCA — Sand  anp  Quartz ^03 

Soapstone  or  Talc   1"'' 

Strontium   1"^ 


Sulphur  

Chapter  VI. 


106 


salines- 
Introductory    107 

BORAX    107 

Magnesium  Salts  108 

Nitrates    109 

Potash  109 

Salt 111 

soda 113 

Chapter  VII. 

mineral    production    op    CALIFORNIA    BY    COUNTIES. 

INTRODUCTORY    114 

ALAMEDA 115 

.Alpine    IIG 

Amador 116 

Butte 117 

Calaveras    117 

Colusa    118 

Contra    Costa    118 

Del  Norte 119 

El  Dorado 120 

Fresno    120 

Glenn   121 

Humboldt    122 

Imperial 122 

Inyo 123 

Kern    124 

Kings    124 

Lake    125 

Lassen    125 

Los  Angeles  126 

Madera   126 

Marin    127 

Maeiposa    127 

Mendocino     128 


TABLE    OP    CONTENTS.  5 

MIXERAI,    PRODUCTION    OF    CALIFORNIA   BY    COUNTIES continued.  Tagl! 

Merced    j 12S 

Modoc   129 

Mono    129 

Monterey ISO 

Napa 130 

Nevada    IJl 

Orange    131 

Placer   132 

Plumas   1S2 

Riverside 133 

Sacramento 134 

San   Benito   154 

San   Bernardino   : 1S5 

San  Diego 135 

San  Francisco 136 

San  Joaquin 138 

San  Luis  Obispo 137 

San  Mateo 137 

Santa   Barbara   138 

Santa  Clara ■ 13S 

Santa  Cruz 133 

Shasta   . 140 

Sierra  141 

Siskiyou 141 

Solano   142 

Sonoma 142 

Stanislaus     143 

Sutter  144 

Tehama 144 

Trinity 144 

Tulare 145 

Tuolumne 146 

Ventura   146 

Yolo    147 

Tuba    147 

APPKNDIX. 

MINING  BUREAU  ACT 14S 

PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  STATE  MINING  BUREAU 151 

COUNTY    MAPS    15.1 

INDEX    176 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Museum  of  State  Mi.n'ing  Bureau Frontispiece 

Chart  Showing  Californi.i  Oil  Production,  1903-1917 17 

Chart  Showing  Metal  Prices.  1914-191S 27 

A  Shipment  of  300  Flasks  of  Quicksilver  from  the  New  Idria  Mine 45 

Chart  of  Silver  Prices,  1914-1917 : 48 

State   Highway   Bridge  at   Dunsmuir,, 59 

Mining  Chromite  Near  Camp  Meeker,  Sonoma  County 60 

Chromite  Concentrating  Mill  of  Placer  Chrome  Company 62 

Calcining  Furnaces  at  the  Sampson  Magnesite  Mine,  San  Benito  County 68 

Magnesite  Loading  Bunkers  at  Ingo.mar 70 

Hauling  Limestone.  Near  Shingle  Springs.  El  Dorado  County 97 

Salt  Stacks  at  Plant  of  Oliver  Chemical  Company 111 

Maps \ 155-175 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 


August,  1918 

I'll   His   Kxrdlilicil.   tlic   IlllX<iH.\Bl.K    Wu.MAAr    I).    STEPHEN'S, 

(!iir(  niiir  of  IIk   SIijU   of  CaUfoniia. 
Siu:     I   lia\i'  tlir  lioiiiir  tii  lii'n'with  Irniisinit  Biillptiii  No.  83  of  the 
StMic  .Miiiiiij;'  Bureau,  being  the  aiiiuial  I'epoi't  nl'  the  slatislies  of  the 
mineral  iiroiluctioii  of  California. 

The  1  eiiiav]\ahlp  variety,  total  valuation,  and  wide  distribution  of 
iiianx'  (if  our  iiiitierals  revealed  herein  show  Califoruia'.s  continned 
.stiatet;ie  iiii))oi'taHee  as  a  prinlncer  of  eonmiereial  minerals  among  the 
stales  of  the  Union. 

Kes])eetfnlly  siilmiitte*.!. 

Fletcher  H.xmilton, 
State  ^lineralogist. 


LETTER  OF  INTRODUCTION. 


It  is  the  endeavor  of  tlie  staff  of  the  State  Mining  Burean  in  these 
annual  reports  of  the  mineral  industries  of  California  to  so  compile  the 
statistics  of  production  that  they  will  be  of  actual  use  to  producers  and 
1ij  those  interested  in  the  utilization  of  the  mineral  products  of  our 
state,  while  at  the  same  time  keeping  the  individual's  data  confidential. 
In  aildition  to  the  mere  figures  of  output,  we  have  included  descriptions 
iif  the  u.scs  and  characteristics  of  many  (jf  the  materials,  as  well  as  a 
bi'ief  mciilion  of  their  (icciirrenees. 

Tile  c(iiii|iilati()H  (if  aii-ui-atc  ami  (icpeudable  figures  is  an  extremely 
diffieiilt  undei-takiiig.  ;.ii(l  the  State  Mineralogist  lakes  the  opportunity 
of  here  expressing  his  appreciation  of  the  co-operation  of  the  producers 
in  making  this  work  possible.  \  fuller  appreciation  of  the  value  of 
early  I'l'sponses  to  llir  rc(|uests  sent  out  at  the  beginning  of  each  year, 
will   result  in  earlier  publication  ol'  the  data  in  the  future. 

Some  of  the  data  relati\e  to  j)roperties  and  uses  of  many  of  the  min- 
erals herein  described  are  rejieated  from  ju'eceding  reports,  as  it  is 
intended  that  this  annual  statisticMl  bulletin  shall  be  somewhat  of  a 
c&mijendium  of  iiifermation  on  California's  eonuiiereial  minerals  and 
tlicir  nlilizMtion. 

Fl.yTCHEE  IlAMIl/roN, 

State  Mineralogist. 


MINERAL  INDUSTRY,  CALIFORNIA,  1917. 


DATA   COMPILED    FROM    DIRECT    RETURNS    FROM    PRO- 
DUCERS IN  ANSWER  TO  INQUIRIES  SENT  OUT  BY 
CALIFORNIA  STATE   MINING   BUREAU,   FERRY 
BUILDING,  SAN   FRANCISCO,  CAL. 


CHAPTER  ONE. 

Mineral  output  in  Calit'oiuia  during  the  year  1917  amounted  to  the 
important  sum  of  $161,202,962  worth  of  crude  materials.  There  were 
fifty-four  different  mineral  substances  (a  net  gain  of  two),  exclusive  of 
a  segregation  of  the  various  stones  grouped  under  gems;  and  of  the 
fifty-eight  counties  in  the  state,  all  but  one  contributed  some  mineral 
product. 

As  compared  with  the  1916  output,  the  notable  features  of  1917  are 
the  continued  increases  along  most  of  those  lines  which  have  been 
boosted  by  war  conditions,  the  enormous  increase  in  petroleum  valua- 
tion, and  the  decrease  of  over  a  million  dollars  in  the  gold  yield.  The 
result  is  a  net  inereasc  in  the  grand  total  value  of  $33,301,352  over  the 
1916  total,  when  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  California  her  total 
mineral  yield  for  a  year  passed  the  one  hundred  million  mark. 

Of  the  metals:  Copper  deci-eased  ajiproximately  7,300,000  pounds  in 
((uantity  and  $479,069  in  value.  (4old  decreased  $1,323,237.  Lead 
and  (piicksilver  each  increased,  while  silvei-,  zinc  and  tung.sten  .showed 
decreases. 

Petroleum  increased  over  five  million  barrels  in  (piantity,  and  the 
prices  per  barrel  for  all  grades  continued  to  rise  so  materiallj-  that  the 
net  result  was  an  increase  of  $29,554,875  in  total  value. 

Decided  gains  are  shown  by  some  of  tlic  structural  and  industrial 
materials,  sueh  as  cement,  chromitc,  magncsitc  and  manganese.  Of 
these  cement  leads  with  a  gain  of  over  a  million  dollars,  followed  by 
magnesite  with  a  gain  of  $66-1,334.  All  of  the  saline-s  increased,  but 
especially  potash,  from  $663,605  to  $4,202,889. 

The  figures  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau  are  made  up  from  reports 
received  direct  from  the  producers  of  the  various  minerals.  Care  is 
exercised  in  avoiding  duplication,  and  any  error  is  likely  to  be  on  the 
side  of  under-  rather  than  over-estimation. 

California  yields  conunercially  a  greater  number  and  variety  of  min- 
I  i-al  iiroducts  than  any  otlier  state  in  the  United  States,  and  probably 
more  than  any  other  equal  area  elsewhere  of  the  earth.  Previous  to 
lin6.  the  total  annual  value  of  her  output  was  surpassed  by  but  four 


10  JIINKKAI,    INDUSTKV    (IF    CALIFOKNIA. 

(illiiT  sl;it('s.  tlii'V  bi'ing  the'  irrt'sit  coal  and  ii-iiii  prodiii'ci's  of  cast  of  the 
Mississippi  Kivcr:  ]n  191(5  aud  1917,  because  of  tlu'ir  cnofiiinus  iii- 
ri'cascs  in  ("oiipci-  ontpnt,  ^lontaua  and  Ai-izona  ]iasscd  California  in 
total  \alni'  foi-  those  yeai's.  Of  otic  iti'in.  at  least,  l)orax.  California 
still  remains  tile  sole  producer;  aud  for  uuiny  years,  was  also  the  sole 
doniestie  source  of  chronnte  and  nia<i'nesite.  AVp  produce  at  least  75',; 
lif  the  i(nicksil\er  of  the  Tnited  States.  Foi'  some  years,  we  have  been 
leading'  all  others  in  fiohi  and  platiniun  :  while  alternating  in  the  lead 
with  ("dlorado  in  tunysten.  and  with  Oklahoma  in  petroleinii. 

.Motor  truel<s  have  pi-o\cn  invaluable  in  ojicniny  up  mineral  prop- 
erties hitherto  an  nniirt)H(able  distance  from  railroad  transportation. 
The  advent  and  ini|iroveineut  of  motor  vehicles  has  induced  the  build- 
injr  of  lietter  roatls  cvei'y where,  thus  assistiufi:  \'cry  greatly  in  the  devel- 
opment of  many  of  our  natural  resource-;.  The  recoi'd  of  accomplish- 
ments iriven  herein  shows  that  California  is  eertaiidy  doing  licr  part 
towards  winning  the  war. 

The  following  table  shows  the  comparative  yield  of  mineral  sub- 
staiici's  of  California  for  191H  and  1917.  as  com])iled  I'roiii  the  retuiais 
I'cccived  a1  tlic  State  Mining  liun'au.  San  Ki  am-isco,  in  answer  to 
ini|niries  sent   to  producers : 


STATISTICS   OP    ANN  UAL  PRODUCTION. 


11 


Aulinioiiy  ore  

Apl^jstos  

Barytps ___ 

Bituminous  ro^k 

Borax  .„ 

Brick  and  tile 

Cadmium  

0?m?nt   

Chromit?    

Clay— pottery    ._ 

Coal    _. 

Copper  

Dolomite    

F.'ldspar  

Fluorspar 

Fuller's  earth 

Gems  - 

Gold    - 

Granite    

Graphite  

Gyrsum 

Infusorial  and  diato- 

maccous  earths 

Iron  ore  

L?ad   — - 

I.lme  

Limestone    

Lithia    

MagBesite    

Magnesium  salts  

Manganpse  ore  

Marble   

Mineral  paint 

Mineral  wat=r  .-- 

Molybdenum  ore 

Natural  gas  

PetroUum    _ 

Platinum    

Potash  

Pnmiee    and    volcanic 

ash    

Pyrite  — 

QuI.'ksilTsr    

Salt   - 

Sandstone    

Serpentine 

Silica    (sand    and 

quartz)    

Si'ver    

Soapston"   and   talc— . 

Soda    

Miscellaneous  stoaet  -- 

Strontium    

Tungsten  concentrates 

Zinc   

IJnapportionfd*    


1,015  t<»ns 

11.1  tons 

1.60S  tons 

19,445  tons 

103,523  tons 

206  989  M 


5,2l<),.507  bbs. 
48,943  ton.* 
131.633  tons 
4  0:7  tons 
55  809,019  lbs. 
13,313  tons 
2,630  tors 


110  tons 


29,19i)  lbs. 
r3,3;4  tors 


15,322 

3.0fO 

8,193 

493,6'5 

lf>7,521 

71 

1.54.052 

851 

13,404 

25  951 

613 

2273,S17 

g 

28,134,365 

90,262,5.57 

S?5 

17,90? 


Ions 

tons 

tons 

hbls. 

tons 

tons 

tons 

tons 

tons 

eu.  ft. 

tons 

ga's. 

tons 

Mcu.  ft. 

bbls. 

ounces 

tons 


1.216  tons 
120,525  tors 

21,427  flasks 
186,14s  tons 

17,270  cu.  ft. 


20,K0  tons 

1.703  tons 
10,593  tons 


57  tOCB 

2,270  tors 
15,950,565  lbs. 


$84,793 
2,3S0 
5,510 

61,561 
2.409,375 
2,09S,570 


6,210  283 

n7,244 
146,538 
7,030 
13,729,017 
45,566 
14,K0 


550 
4,752 
21.410,741 
535,339  I 

•  I 
59,.-33  j 

30,649 

8.0(0 

'55.049 

395,475 

217,733 

1,085 

1,311,893 

0,407 

274,801 

50,280 

3,960 

410,112 

9.945 

2,871,731 

57,421,334 

42,612  i 

863,605  I 

1«,092  I 
372,939  i 
2.003.425 
455,695 

io,2n 


Tola's    

N^t  increase 


48.S08 

1,687,M5 

0,831 

261,825 

4,in,519 

2,850 

4,571,521 

2,137,375 

2,335 


i;u" 

Increase* 

Amount 

A'alue 

Value 

15S  tons 

$18,786 

?46,007— 

136  tons 

10,225 

7,845  ^- 

4,420  tons 

25,633 

20,117-h 

5,590  tons 

18,580 

47,981- 

109,944  tona 

2,561,958 

152,583+ 

2,532,721 

« 

7,544,282 

436,151  + 

* 

1,333,989+ 

• 
5,790,734  bbls. 

52,379  tons 

1.130.298 

413,054+ 

166,298  tons 

154,602 

8,084  + 

3,527  tons 

7,691 

661  + 

48,534,611  lbs. 

13,219,&4S 

479,069- 

27,911  tons 

83,418 

19,869+ 

11,792  tors 

48.411 

32,001  + 

220  tons 

2,1S0 

1,830+ 

3  049 

1  703 

20,087,504 
221  997 

1,323,237— 

313,342— 

*+ 

2,69S- 

30,82)  tons 

* 
53,840 

21,301  tons 

127,510 

46  851  + 

2,874  tons 

11,493 

5,496- 

10,828  tons 

1,962,016 

1,006,967-^ 

500,730  bb's. 

311,380 

79,095— 

257,279  tons 

353,396 

138,663+ 

880  tons 

8,S00 

7,735+ 

209,818  tons 

1,976,227 

664,334+ 

1,061  tons 

31,973 

28,566+ 

15,515  tons 

39(5,659 

122,(68+ 

24,755  cu.  ft. 

62,950 

12,870+ 

520  tons 

2.700 

1.281- 

1.942  020  gala. 

.^0,683 

69,446- 

243  tons 

9,014 

931— 

44,31.';,020  M  cu.  ft. 

2.964,922 

93,171  + 

95,398,309  bbls. 

86.978.209 

29,554,875+ 

610  ounces 

43,719 

1,077  + 

129,022  tons 

4,202,889 

8,539,284  + 

525  tons 
111,325  tons 

24,382  flasks 
227,825  tons 

31,090  cu.  ft. 


5,267  tons 
24,505  tons 

3,030  tons 
2,466  tons 
11,854,804  lbs. 


5.2^ 

323,704 

2,395,466 

584,373 

7,074 


41,183 
1.482,955 

45,279 

92.8,.578 

3,t'34,767 

37,000 
3,079,013 
1,209,190 

20,455 


12,797- 
49,265— 
393,041  + 
128,678+ 
3,197— 


7,742— 

224,390— 

35,448+ 

683,753+ 

536,752— 

34,150  •- 

1,492,508- 

928,185- 

18^120-1- 


'  $127,901,610  1! •  ?151,202,962 


$33,301,352 1 


•Unapportioned— includes  cadmium,  fluorspar,  graphite  and  serpentine. 

(Includes  macadam,  ballast,  rubble,  rip-riip.  pavins  blocks,  sand,  gravel,  and  grinding  mill 
pebbles. 


12  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 

The  following  table  shows  the  comparative  value  of  the  mineral  pro- 
duction of  the  various  counties  in  the  state  for  the  years  1916  and  W17  -. 


County 


Alameda  

Alpine    

Amador _ 

Butte    

Calaveras   

Oolusa  -- 

Contra  Costa 

Del  Norte 

El  Dorado 

Fresno  .- 

Glenn   

Humboldt   

Imperial  

Inyo 


Kern    

Kings   -. 

Lake   

Lassen    

Los  Angeles 

Madera   

Marin  

Mariposa  ... 
Mendocino    . 

Merced  

Modoe    

Mono    

Alonterev  ... 


\ai)a 


Nevada   

Orange 

Placer 

Plumas   

Riverside  

Sacramento 

San  Benito 

.San  Bernardino  .. 

San  Diego  

San  Francisco  __- 

San  .Ioa((uin  

Han  Luis  Obispo. 

San  Miiteo 

Santa   B;ul)ara  .. 

Santa  Clara  

Santa  Cruz  

Shasta 

Sierra  

Siskiyou 

Solano  

Sonoma    

Stanislaus    

Sutter  

Tehama 

Trinity   

Tulare   

Tuolumne    

Ventura -- 

Volo 

Yuba  


$1,094,167 


$1,138,723 


Totals 


3,811,428 

3,851,194 

1,356,925 

1,130,2.59 

2,965,592 

.3,717,150 

42,803 

16,.321 

1,279,060 

1.276,6.57 

2,432 

104,340 

470,687 

313,602 

8,061,193 

14,158,052 

81,162 

65,272 

274,895 

59,858 

105,333 

129,400 

4,600,096 

6,296,230 

37,826.907 

49.743,422 

26,788 

2,777 

180,996 

170,552 

9,725 

376 

4,463,045 

8,204,523 

222,758 

236,937 

178,306 

272,302 

487,971 

3.52,227 

55,680 

50,415 

81,530 

147.116 

3,559 

200 

240,990 

218,772 

109,872 

138,786 

1,078,537 

1,421,073 

3,744,143 

3,838,397 

8,905,086 

15,231,626 

1,042,629 

1,029,789 

1„S99,3;35 

2,294,886 

1,234,2,52 

1,580..555 

2,178,674 

2,286,656 

1,21.3,447 

1,233,163 

6,.'->69,147 

7,407,742 

397,168 

1,713,708 

76,437 

107,957 

468,862 

470,220 

245,807 

338,144 

135,408 

207,163 

4.535,029 

5.153,081 

851,948 

991,530 

1,679,111 

1,668,324 

13,639,508 

10,244,869 

729,497 

389.615 

580,896 

829,409 

1,205,335 

1,899,231 

472,048 

506,7.50 

253,022 

289,922 

6,450 

5,000 

54,353 

44,019 

846,561 

987,842 

917,200 

1,499.988 

].(XW.262 

511,273 

1,135,430 

1,498,010 

.  .      30O 

5,561 

3,237,828 

3,721,996 

$127,901,610 

$161,202,962 

STATISTICS    OP    ANNUAL    PROnUCTION. 


13 


CHAPTER  TWO. 


FUELS. 


Among  the  most  important  iiiineral  products  of  California  are  its 
fuels.  This  subdivision  infludes  eoal,  natural  gas  and  petroleum,  the 
combined  values  of  which  make  up  over  50  per  cent  of  the  state's  entire 
mineral  output.  Comparison  of  values  during  191(5  and  1917  i.s  shown 
in  the  following  table : 


Increase* 

Decrease — 

Value 


Ooal    

Natural   gas   

P'^trol^iim 

4,037  tons 

i  28,184,3K  M.  cu. 

90  23'  557  bbls 

ft. 

$7,030 

2,871,751  ; 

57,421,334  i 

3,627  tons 
44,343,020  M.  Cll.  ft, 
95,396,309  bbls. 

$7,691 

2,994,922 

,    88,978,21)9 

$361  + 

9.'?,171+ 

29,.054,e75+ 

Tola's 

$80,300,115 

1 

$39,948,822 

N^t  increase  

$29,648,707+ 

1 

COAL. 

Biblioyraphy:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  VII,  XII,  XIII,  XIV. 
XV.  U.  S,  G.  S..  Bulletins  285,  31(i.  431,  471.  581  :  An.  Rej..  22, 
Pt.  III. 

Coal  has  been  proihiced  in  Califoi'iiia  since  as  early  as  1860,  and  until 
the  development  of  crude  oil  was  an  important  factor  in  the  mineral 
industry  of  the  state.  As  mn.st  of  it  is  lignite,  the  quality  is  generally 
l)oor  as  compared  with  other  coals  on  the  Pacific  Coast  markets.  How- 
ever, in  competition  with  fuel  oil,  coal  of  all  grades  has  had  to  take 
second  place.  Besides  the  counties  noted  below  as  showing  a  com- 
mercial production,  workable  bodies  of  coal  are  also  known  in  several 
other.s,  including  Alameda.  ^Mendocino.  Monterey,  Shasta,  Siskiyou  and 
Riverside. 

During  1917,  there  was  a  production  reported  from  Amador  and 
('ontra  Costa  counties,  totaling  3,527  tons,  worth  $7,691. 

Though  no  exact  figures  of  output  previous  to  1887  are  available,  it 
is  known  that  many  hundred  thousand  tons  were  shipped  from  the 


u 


MINHRAI;    INDUSTKV    OF    C1AI,IF01{N1A. 


Mdiiiil    Dialilii   ilistrii'l.   ('niili'ii    ('(ist;i    Cuuiily.    lii'twcoii   the  ycMr.s   IS(it) 
!ind  ISST.     Since  1887,  tlic  annual  (nilpnt  nl'  (-(lal  lias  hwn  as  follows: 


1887 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


Year 


Tons 


Value 


1888  . 

1889  . 

1890  . 

1891  . 

1892  . 

1893  . 

1894  . 

1895  . 

1896  . 

1897  . 

1898  . 

1899  . 

1900  . 
ISOl 
1902  . 
1H(« 


50,000 

$150,000 

1904 

95,000 

380,000 

1905 

121,280 

288,232 

1906 

110,711 

283,019 

1907 

93,301 

204,902 

1908 

85,178 

209,711 

1909 

72,603 

167,555 

1910 

59,887 

139,862 

1911 

79,858 

193,790 

1912 

70,649 

161,335 

1  1913 

87,449 

196,255 

'  1914 

143,045 

337,475 

1915 

160,941 

420,109 

1916 

176,956 

535,531 

1917 

150,724 

401,772 

88,460 

248,622 

!);!,n2(i 

2r,:,.:iN3 

79,0()2 

?376,494 

46,500 

144,500 

24,850 

61,600 

23,734 

55,849 

18,496 

55,503 

49,389 

216,913 

11,033 

23,484 

11,047 

18,297 

14,484 

39,092 

25,198 

85,809 

11,859 

28.806 

10,299 

26.662 

4,037  , 

7,030 

3,.527 

7.691 

Totiils    .- -     2,072,583  [    $5,731,283 


NATURAL  GAS. 

HililiiH/ra iiliji :  St;i1c  ,M iiirraloiiisl  Hr]i<)i-ts  VII.  X,  XII,  XIII, 
Xl\'.     linlh'tins  :i.  IC.  1!),  (i!),  7:i. 

Statistics  (in  the  ijmduction  of  natui-al  yas  in  California  have  been 
lai-ficly  irucsswork  in  tlic  i)a,st.  th()iig;h  each  year  becoming  le.ss  so,  as 
iiioie  (l-ita  are  a\ailalile.  The  tif;iu'es  liere  given  are  certainly  far 
below  the  antual  |iro(lucti(in.  particulai-Iy  in  the  six  oil-producing 
(•(unities.  It  is  an  exeeptinnal  nil  property  where  gas  in  some  ciaantity 
does  not  occur.  .Many  iiib))rndueiiig  concerns  make  nn  mention  of  their 
gas.  l)ecaiise  they  have  no  method  of  measuring  it.  but  it  is  widely  used 
in  the  oil  fields.  Doubtless,  consideraiile  gas  is  ^\■asted,  but  a  sweeping 
cdndemnation  of  operatoi-s  should  not  be  indulged  in.  It  must  be 
remembered  that  several  of  our  important  oil  fields  are  removed  many 
miles  from  the  site  of  any  other  industry,  and  that  the  gathei'ing  of 
small  aiiiDunts  of  gas  and  transporting  it  for  any  considerable  distance 
may  not  always  be  ])rotitalile.  However,  it  is  undoubtedly  a  fact  that 
greater  saving  can  fre(|Uently  lie  made  with  profit.  Gas  traps  of 
\arious  size  and  design  are  coming  into  more  fi'iMpient  use.  Some 
large  operators  are  making  commendable  efforts  to  conserve  the  gas 
which  accompanies  oil  and  is  I'ieher  than  the  so-called  'dry  gas'  occur- 
ring in  strata  which  do  not  produce  oil.  As  far  as  possible,  casing- 
Lead  gas  is  used  in  driving  gas  engines  for  pumping  and  drilling,  and 
in  firing  the  boilers  of  steam-driven  plants. 

In  a  hearing  before  the  California  Railroad  Commission,  in  JMay, 
1!)l(j,  relative  to  gas  rates  in  the  Los  Angeles  territory,  part  of  the 
testimony  showed  in  the  ^lidway  field  4(i, 600,000  cubic  feet  of  natural 
gas  available  per  24  hours.     This  is  made  up  of  28,750,000  feet  from 


STATISTII'S    dl'    ANNT.U.    I-K(  IDI  •("I'll  l\. 


15 


!lic  <li-.\  L;as  wclU  ••111(1  1  T.iSfjO.UOO  ft'fl,  I'luiii  wells  pi'odiiciuy;  !)Olli  ffas 
.■111(1  (lil.  It  \v:is  est  iiiiiilcd  thill  this  sui)|ily  wmild  iiavc  a  life  of  from 
scx'cii  1(1  It'll  vcars.  The  .Mi(h\,-i\'  pipf  line  is  caiKiMi'  ni'  trnnsmittiiit!: 
L>;{.U(H).(>(I()  ciihic  feet  lu-r  day. 

It  will  be  noted  that  .several  eountics  prudiiee  gas  wliieh  is  not  ai-coiii- 
paiiied  by  oil  partieularly  Saeranieiito  and  San  Joaquin,  whei'e  it  i.s 
inixcil  with  uiainifaetured  ga.s  for  domestic  service. 

The  value  of  gas  as  here  shown  may  be  open  to  some  question,  but  is 
eeilainly  not  too  high,  as  regai'ds  the  oil  eounties.  The  average  priee 
is  about  ()(•  |)er  l.iH'.i)  eubic  feet.  Ajiproximately  7,000  eu.  ft.  of  gas 
1-  eipial  t(i  one  barrel  of  oil  in  heating  value,  and  is  .so  accounted  for 
by  inan,\-  operators.  In  driving  gas  engines,  about  4,000  eu.  ft.  )iei' 
L'4  hr.  are  ednsuiiied  by  a  I'o  !i.|).  engine,  and  (i.3,700  cu.  ft.  per  day  for 
heating  a  70  h.|).  steam  boilei'.  wliieli  figures  have  l)een  used  in  com- 
piling this  report. 

Natural   Gas,   1917. 


I'lesno   

Kern    

Kings   

I.os  Augcle.s  

'Hange    

Siin  Joiuiuin  _ _ 

Santa  liarljara  

Ventura    

r.utti',   ITumlioldl.   I.al<i',  Saoniini'iito.  mid  Solano*. 

Totals    


M  cubic  feet 

Value 

4,097,626 

.f347,.5Ul 

2.5,819,376 

1, 145,880 

3,569 

2.777 

1,670,476 

194,7i);i 

8,171,83.5 

490,511 

348,146 

72,585 

3,104,170 

227,507 

1,033,564 

152,55(1 

94,2.58 

30,818 

44,343,020 

$2,964,922 

'('(nuliined   to   ooiiceal   (Hitpvit   of  an   individual  producer  in   each 

The  aiiiiiial  i)r(iduction  of  ntitural  gas  in  California  since  1888  is  as 
follows : 


Value 


1888 $10,000 


1889. 
1890. 

1891  . 

1892  . 

1893  . 

1894  . 
1895. 
1896  . 
1897. 
1898. 
1899  . 
1900. 

1901  . 

1902  . 
lEOi  . 


19114  

1905 

191,6  

li;(»7  

I9U8 

1«19  

1910  

1911  

1912  

1913  

1914  

95,000  1915  

34,578  1916  

92,034   1917 
99,443 

74.237  Total 


12.680 
33,000 
30,000 
55,000 
68,500 
79,072 
112,000 
111,457 
62,657 
74,424 


$91,0.35 
102,479 
109,489 
114,759 
I74,.584 
i;i6,932 
676,367 
491,8.59 
940,076 
0.53.292 
049,470 
,706,480 
871,7.51 
964.922 


$15,307,.57 


16  MrNERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Gasoline  from   Natural  Gas. 

As  above  indicated,  more  or  less  gas  usually  accompanies  the  petro- 
leum in  the  oil  fields.  A  luniiber  of  plants  are  in  operation  manufactur- 
ing gasoline  by  compression  from  this  'casing-head  gas.'  This  subject 
was  investigated  by  the  I'.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines  and  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey,  and  descril)ed  in  considerable  detail  by  G.  A.  Burrell  et  al.,' 
and  J.  D.  Northruj).-  A  valuable  article  also  appeared  in  one  of  the 
trade  journals.-'  The  Department  of  Petroleum  and  Gas,  of  the  State 
-Mining  Bureau,  intends  to  conduct  a  detailed  investigation  of  natural 
gas  production  with  the  idea  of  being  able  to  point  out  means  of  more 
economical  use  of  this  splendid  natural  resource. 

Tiie  largest  natural  gas  tield  of  commercial  iiiiportance  thus  far 
developed  in  California  is  in  the  Midway  district,  followed  by  Santa 
Barbaia,  Orange  and  Los  Angeles  countie-s.  in  the  order  named.  The 
Southern  California  Gas  ('onipany  operates  a  12-inch  pipe  line  from 
the  .Midway  field,  a  distance  of  107  miles,  to  Los  Angeles,  where  it 
supplies  gas  to  local  distributing  companies.  The  Valley  Natural  Gas 
Company  supi)lies  gas  to  consumers  in  the  ilidway  tield  and  to  local 
distributing  companies  at  Fellows,  Taft,  Maricopa,  Bakerstield,  and  the 
Kern  River  fields.  The  Santa  Maria  Gas  and  Power  Company  dis- 
tributes gas  around  Santa  Maria,  from  wells  in  the  neighboring  oil 
fields. 

There  are  in  operation  a  tutal  of  'M  plants  making  casing-head  gaso- 
line bj'  eompres.sion,  with  a  total  daily  capai'ity  estimated  at  61,400 
gallons,  distributed  as  follows: 


Number     |     Gallons 
plants       I       daily 


Coalinga    __ 1  2,000 

Whittier-Fullerton   _ 9  1.5,850 

Midway  8  16,700 

Santa  Maria 7  19,900 

.-'alt  Lake  (Los  Angeles) .3  3,600 

Ventura 3  3,350 


Totals   31  61,400 


At  Santa  Maria,  after  the  gasoline  is  extracted,  the  remaining  'dry 
gas'  is  taken  into  the  pipe  lines  of  the  Santa  Maria  Gas  and  Power 
Company,  by  whom  it  is  distributed  to  consumers,  both  domastic  and 
commercial. 

In  the  Midway  field,  some  of  the  casing-head  gasoline  is  obtained  as 
an  incidental  product  to  the  compressing  of  the  natural  gas  preliminary 
to  transmission  through  the  gas  pipe  lines.     Some  concerns  market 


'U.   S.   Bur.  of  Mines,   Bull.  88. 

HJ.  S.  G.  S.,  Mln.  Res.  1914,  Pt.  II.  pp.  793-795;  798-800;  804-805. 

'Oil  &  Gas  Journal,   Tulsa,  Okla.,  Jan.   13,   1916,  p.   62. 


17 

pe 
or 
of 
ds 
ra 


)in 
ne 
lat 
se. 
as 
a 
he 
be 

>m 
ng 

>m 
19° 
•ill 

all 


mv 


sev 


2MC 
BOO 


p- 

le 
al 
6, 

ig 
as 
ts 

ly 

r- 
'P 

le 

3f 
3f 

t' 

r. 

is 
6. 
le 
e- 
ir 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  17 

casing-head  gasoline  separately,  while  others  turn  it  into  the  oil  pipe 
lines,  thus  mixing  this  high-gravity  gasoline  with  the  crude  oil  for 
transportation  to  the  refinery,  where  it  is  later  regained.  A  total  of 
approximately  21.953,447  gallons  of  casing-head  ga-soliue  from  all  fields 
w-as  made  during  1917  and  utilized  directly  as  such.  Santa  Harbara 
County  led  in  this  output  with  a  total  of  9,063.009  gallons,  Kern  being 
.second  with  8,339,925  gallons. 

^"There  are  many  peculiai-ities  in  connection  witli  the  extraction  of  gasoline  from 
gas  that  are  ascertained  only  through  the  closest  stud>'.  The  percentage  of  gasoline 
taken  from  the  higliest  grades  of  oil,  it  is  natural  to  infer,  is  much  greater  than  that 
taken  from  low  grades  of  oil.  and  >'et  this  does  not  always  prove  to  be  the  case. 
Much  depends  upon  the  amount  of  oil  produced  T.'ith  the  relative  amount  of  gas 
coming  with  the  oil.  For  instance,  if  an  oil  well  is  a  small  producer  of  oil  and  a 
heavy  gasser.  the  percentage  of  gasoline  is  much  larger  than  it  would  be  from  the 
same  amount  of  gas  coming  from  a  large  production  of  oil.  old  wells  seem  to  be 
more  prolific  in  gasoline  than   new  wells. 

"Aside  from  the  Salt  Lake  field,  only  a  small  percentage  of  the  gas  coming  from 
low-grade  oil  has  proved  to  be  of  commercial  value.  This  is  especially  true  among 
new  producing  wells  whei-e  the  oil  is  of  a  gravity  below  IS  degrees. 

"It  is  stated  that  as  a  general  average  gas  coming  from  grades  of  oil  of  from 
22''-25°.  will  make  from  four  to  six  quarts  to  the  thousand  feet  of  gas;  from  25* -29" 
it  will  average  from  two  to  three  gallons  jier  thousand  feet,  and  above  29°  it  ^viU 
average  from  three  to  five  gallons  per  thousand  feet. 

"The  richest  gas  so  far  discovered  in  the  state  is  that  found  in  the  old  Newhall 
field.     The  wells  are  all   very  old  and  small  producers  of  high-gravity  oil." 

PETROLEUM. 
Bibliographi/  -.     .State  ilinerahigist  Reports  IV,  VII.  X,  XII,  XIII. 
Bulletins  3.  11.  Iti.  19.  31.  32.  83.  69,  73,  82. 

Chief  of. the  fuels  of  California  i.s  petroleum.  A  complete  <lescrip- 
ticn  of  the  industry  is  to  be  fountl  in  Bulletin  69,  issued  in  1915  by  the 
State  Mining  Bureau;  supplemented  by  Bulletins  73  and  82,  annual 
reports  of  the  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor  for  the  fiscal  yeaivs  1915-1916, 
and  1916-1917.  The  state  law  providing  for  the  regulation  of  drilling 
and  maintenance  of  oil  and  gas  wells  by  the  State  ]\Iining  Bureau  has 
been  in  effect  since  1915.  The  chief  aim  is  to  protect  the  oil  deposits 
from  damage  and  to  aid  producer.s  in  their  work.  A  .staff  of  teclinically 
trained  men  maintain  offices  in  the  various  fields.  California  is  cer- 
tainly not  exceeded  bj'  any  other  state  in  its  efforts  to  accurately  keep 
in  touch  with  the  oil  business. 

The  oil  production  for  California  for  1917,  as  determined  from  the 
sworn  statements  made  to  the  State  Mineralogist  for  the  Department  of 
Petroleum  and  Gas,  by  the  producers  from  7,834  wells  (exclusive  of 
the  Los  Angeles  City  field)  amounted  to  94,433,547  barrels  net.  'Net' 
means  that  a  deduction  of  approximately  2%  has  been  made  for  water. 
A  part  of  the  oil  consumed  for  fuel  at  the  wells  is  not  included.  This 
shows  an  increase  of  7,370,352  barrels  from  the  net  figures  for  1916. 
When  the  .same  deduction.s  for  water  and  fuel  have  been  made  from  the 
figures  already  published  by  the  Standard  Oil  Company  and  the  Inde- 
pendent Oil  Producers  Agency,  it  will  be  seen  that  they  are  in  fair 
agreement  with  the  94,433,547  barrels  above  recorded. 


*0  &  G.  Journal,  loc.  cit. 
2— 10503 


16 

Gasoline  fro 

As  abo^ 
leum  in  th 
ing  gasoli 
was  invest 
Survey,  a, 
and  J.  D. 
trade  joui 
Mining  Bi 
gas  produ. 
ceonomiea 

The  lar 
developed 
Barbara,  ( 
Southern 
the  Midwi 
supplies  g 
Company 
distributiii 
Kern  Riv( 
tributes  g. 
fields. 

There  ai 
line  by  co 
gallons,  di 


Coalinga  . 
Whittier-Fu 
Midway  __. 
Santa  Mari 
.-alt  Lake  ( 
Ventura    ._ 

Totals 


At  Sant 
gas'  is  tak 
Company, 
commercial 

In  the  ]V 
an  inciden! 
to  transmi 


'U.   S.   Bur 

nj.  s.  G.  s 

'Oil  &  Gas 


STATISTICS   OP    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  17 

easing-head  gasoline  separately,  while  others  turn  it  into  the  oil  pipe 
lines,  thus  mixing  this  high-gravity  gasoline  with  the  enide  oil  for 
transportation  to  the  refinery,  where  it  is  later  regained.  A  total  of 
approximately  21.953,447  gallons  of  casing-liead  gasoline  from  all  fields 
was  made  during  1917  and  utilized  directly  as  such.  Santa  Barbara 
County  led  in  this  output  witli  a  total  of  9.063,009  gallons,  Kern  being 
second  with  8,339,925  gallons. 

*"There  are  many  peculiarities  in  connection  with  tlie  extraction  of  gasoline  from 
gas  that  are  ascertained  onlj-  through  the  closest  study.  The  pei'ceTitage  of  gasoline 
taken  from  the  highest  grades  of  oil.  it  is  natural  to  infer,  is  much  gre.iter  than  that 
taken  from  low  grades  of  oil.  and  yet  this  does  not  always  prove  to  be  the  case. 
Much  depends  upon  the  amount  of  oil  produced  with  the  relative  amount  of  gas 
coming  with  the  oil.  For  instance,  it  an  oil  well  is  a  small  producer  of  oil  and  a 
heavy  gasser.  the  percentage  of  gasoline  is  much  larger  than  it  would  be  from  the 
same  amount  of  gas  coming  from  a  large  production  of  oil.  Old  wells  seem  to  be 
more  prolific  in  gasoline  than   new  wells. 

".A.side  from  the  Salt  Lake  field,  only  a  small  percentage  of  the  gas  coming  from 
low-grade  oil  has  proved  to  be  of  commercial  value.  This  is  especially  true  among 
new  producing  wells  where  the  oil  is  of  a  gravity  below  18  degrees. 

"It  is  stated  that  as  a  general  avei-age  gas  coming  from  grades  of  oil  of  from 
-2°~25°.  will  make  from  four  to  six  quarts  to  the  thousand  feet  of  gas;  from  25'' -29* 
it  will  average  from  two  to  three  gallons  per  thousand  feet,  and  above  29°  it  ^vill 
average  from  three  to  five  gallons  per  thousand  feet. 

"The  richest  gas  so  far  discovered  in  the  state  is  that  found  in  the  old  Newhall 
field.     The  wells  are  all   very  old  and  small   producers  of  high-gravity  oil." 

PETROLEUM. 
Bibliography.     State  .Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  VII.  X,  XII,  XIII. 
Bulletins  3,  11,  16,  19,  .H.  32.  63,  69,  73,  82. 

Chief  of. the  fuels  of  California  is  |>etroleinn.  A  complete  descrip- 
tion of  the  industry  is  to  be  found  in  Bulletin  69,  issued  in  1915  by  the 
State  Mining  Bureau;  supplemented  b>-  Bulletins  73  and  82,  annual 
reports  of  the  Oil  and  Gas  Supervisor  for  the  fiscal  year.s  1915-1916, 
and  1916-1917.  The  state  law  providing  for  the  regulation  of  drilling 
and  maintenance  of  oil  and  gas  wells  by  the  State  ^lining  Bureau  has 
been  in  eft'ect  since  1915.  The  chief  aim  is  to  protect  the  oil  deposits 
f  rt)m  damage  and  to  aid  producers  in  their  work.  A  staff  of  technically 
trained  men  maintain  offices  in  the  varioas  fields.  California  is  cer- 
tainly not  exceeded  In-  any  other  state  in  its  efforts  to  accurately  keep 
in  touch  with  the  oil  business. 

The  oil  production  for  California  for  1917,  as  determined  from  the 
sworn  statements  made  to  the  State  Mineralogist  for  the  Department  of 
Petroleum  and  Gas,  by  the  producers  from  7,834  wells  (exclusive  of 
the  Los  Angeles  City  field)  amouiited  to  94,433,547  barrels  net.  'Net' 
means  that  a  deduction  of  approximately  2%.  has  l)een  made  for  water. 
A  pait  of  the  oil  consumed  for  fuel  at  the  wells  is  not  included.  Tlii.s 
shows  an  increase  of  7,370,352  barrels  from  the  net  figures  for  1916. 
When  the  same  deductions  for  water  and  fuel  have  been  made  from  the 
ligures  already  published  by  the  Standard  Oil  Company  and  the  Inde- 
pendent Oil  Producers  Agency,  it  will  be  seen  that  they  are  in  fair 
agreement  with  the  94,433,547  barrels  above  recorded. 


*0  &  G.  Journal.  Inc.  cit. 
2—40383 


T'''^  MINERAL    INDUSTRY'    OK    CALIFORNIA. 

To  (he  ahiivi'  Hmiiiiiit.  we  lia\i-  licic  aiidcd  (177.441  liarn^ls  cousimied 
Tor  fuel  at  the  wells,  iiol  iiu/liulcd  above,  and  285,321  barrels  net  out|iul 
of  tlio  Los  Aii^ele-s  City  fields,  iiiakiiii;-  a  total  gro.ss  output  for  I  be 
year  11)17  of  i)5,89(),;50!)  barrels  valued  at  .$Sti,!t7(i.20i).  As  coniiiared  1o 
lilKi  tliis  is  fill  iiici'ease  of  r).l;j8.7r)2  barrels  iii  (luantity.  and  of 
.$2i).r)r)4,>S7r)  in  value.  Tliis  ^'reat  .iniu])  in  value  is  due  to  tbe  fact  tliat 
IIk-  averau'e  pi'iee  per  b.ii'ri'l  fur  .-ill  fields  and  all  li'iades  inei'eased  from 
ly.i.dd-  ill  IflKi  to  !)(l.,Sf  in  1!»]7.  'I'lie  total  or  avera.i^c  liyures  on  pi-iee 
may  be  open  to  some  ipiestinn,  a^  i1  must  be  remembered  that  a  lari;i' 
jiortion  of  the  ei  iide  oil  does  not  enter  tbe  open  market,  but  is  consumed 
or  fefineil  dii'eetly  by  tbe  i)roduecrs.  Tbe  prices  given  aii-  for  oil  w  liieb 
is  actually  sold,  and  are  lainwn  to  be  accurate. 

Kern  was  tbe  only  comity  to  show  a  decrease  in  tbe  i|uaiitity  for  ^'^\l 
as  compared  to  li)lti.  Several  causes  eoiiti'ibutcd  to  tbe  decline.  The 
two  proiiiiiieiit  ones  are:  tlie  continued  tyini;-  up  by  Federal  suils  ;iiid 
withdrawals  of  the  one  disti'ict  of  tbe  state  which  proini.ses  the  most 
for  future  development,  namely,  the  Midway-Sunset;  ;ind  the  fact  tluit 
in  nearly  all  the  fields  there  is  a  decline  in  the  nuniher  of  barrels  jier 
v.cll  per  day  yield.  The  increase  in  jiroduction  foi-  the  state  as  a  whole 
was  broufi-bl  about  by  marked  drilling  .ictivity.  The  new  .Montebello 
field  iiroduction  in  Los  Anodes  County  was  the  outstanding  feature  of 
1917. 

Production   and   Value  of  OH    by   Counties. 

UllO  I '117 

Couiily  " 


I4.594.246 

.$7,530,631 

^1 
16,2,59,797  i 

$13,4M.;;33 

.-.4.120..")09 

■14,691,246 

.53.065.066  > 

47,387,111-1 

2,87.5,4fi8  j 

l,S71,H.3n 

4,669.,583 

■■..491,4311 

13.198,591  1 

S.7.'30,()<iK 

1 4.680,801 

14,724,843 

11.670  1 

5,252 

74.143 

68,6.56 

4..502.206 

3.574,7.52 

.5,631„563 

4,5^0,.303 

16..368  1 

10,901 

18,&55 

26,152 

943,499 

985,956 

;              996,501 

1,313,.3>'8 

90,262,.5.57  ' 

S57,421,334 

i          95,.396,309 

«86976.209 

l-'ri'snn 

Kciii    

l.os  Angi'los 

f)VHIlKC    

San    I.iiis  Obispo. .- 

Siintii  Burl)!ira 

Synta  Clara  

Vfiitura    

Totals    


Average   Price   of  Oil,   by  Counties,   in   Cents  per   Barrel. 

CuuMly  l''ll                       l:'l-                       U'li; 

Fresno  15.2<' 

Kern    10.9^ 

Los  Angeles .55.0^ 

Orang(! 67..5^ 

.San  Luis  Obispo 

Santa  Barbara  46.0(! 

Santa  Clara 53.0(( 

Ventura    105.0(} 

State  average '  46.1*             47.9*             63.6<>             flO.S«; 


.51.5^ 

51.6<S 

82.,50 

42.3* 

64.10 

89.30 

62.9f 

6.5.10 

117.60 

51.20 

66.30 

100.30 

45.00 

92.60 

61.1# 

79.40 

80.80 

66.6* 

66.60 

138.70 

85.50 

104.50 

131.80 

STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 

The  annual  production  since  discovery  in  1875  is  as  follows: 


19 


1875  _ _ 175,000 

1876   _ _-.. 12,000 

1877   13,000 

1878   15,227 

1879  19,858 

1880  '     40,552 

1881   99,862 

1882 _._.,... 128,636 

1883  142,857 

1884   -. 262,000 

1885  325,000 

1886  377,145 

1887  678,572 

1888  _ 690,333 

1889 _ 303,220 

1890  307,360 

1891   323,600 

1892  385,049 

1893  470,179 

1894   783,078 

1895   1,245,339 

1886  1 ,  1,257.780 

1897   1,911,569 


898  2,249, 

899 2.677,; 

flOO  '  4.319,' 

ROl I  7,710, 

902  !  14,3.56, 

ma  __ :  24,340, 

904 '  29,7.S6, 

i)05 34,275, 

906  32.624,' 

907  40,311, 

908  48,306, 

i)09  ,58,191, 

910  77.697, 

911  84,648. 

912  '  89,689, 

913  98,494, 

914  102,881, 

915  91,146. 

916  90,262. 

917  95,396, 


875 
950 
315 
9in 
&39 
003 
701 
000 
171 
910 
723 
568 
157 
250 
532 
907 
620 
,5.57 
.309 


Total 1,039,284,601 


The  total  value  since  1887  is  as  follows: 


1887-1909 .1  $136,693,228 

1910 '  37,689,542 

1911 40,552,088 

1912 1  41,868,344 

1913 . '  48,578,014 

1914 ..J  47,487,109 

1915 43,503,8.37 

1916 _  57,421,334 

1917  86,976,209 

Total  $540,769,708 


20 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Production   by   Fields.* 
(In    Barrels    of   42    Gallons.) 


Kern  River  

McKit trick  

Midway-Sunset   

Lost  Hills-Belridge 

Ooalinga  

■Lompoe  and  Sant;i  Maria 

Ventura  County  and  Newhall 

Lo.s  Angelfs  and  Salt  Lake 

Wliittier-FuUerton 

Summerland   

Wat  Sony  i  lie   

Totals 

Net  increase - 


8,402,525 

8,495,610 

3,230,644 

3,252,544 

38,925,476 

36,560,145 

4,852,431 

6,295,329 

14,381,493 

15,938,543 

4.422,410 

5,798,070 

1,122,033 

1,186.407 

1,721,453 

1,501,799 

14,679,672 

18,155,440 

56,775 

56,570 

27,450 

27,375 

91,822,362 

97,267,832 

5,445,470 

•Standard   Oil  Bulletin.  January,   1918. 


Till'  followiuy  tabk'  i.s  i-uiapilcil  from  the  monthlj'  statements  of  the 
stati.stieal"  bureau  of  the  ludependent  Oil  Producers  Agency  and  given 
ill  their  .summarj-  issued  January  19,  1918: 

Well  Operations,  by   Months,   1917. 


« 

tc 

•3 

Sp 

s 

■oSS 

— 

2  =*  o 

^s 

sa'g 

m-Oft 

tf 

a 

January    

February 

March 

April  

May  

June 

July 

August 

September 

October 

November 

December  

Average,  1917 
Average,  1916 


STATISTICS    OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


21 


The  following  table  is  compiled  from  the  monthly  statements  con- 
tained in  the  Standard  Oil  Bulletin: 

Well   Operations,   by   Fields,   1917. 


PrOilucing 

ProducluK 

December. 

December, 

Completed 

Abandoned 

1918 

19ir 

1,908 

1.969 

40 

3 

293 

309 

26 

1 

1,710 

1,997 

282 

19 

350 

485 

132 

4 

949 

1038 

114 

29 

249 

300 

63 

5 

446 

451 

22 

9 

674 

683 

1 

10 

637 

704 

56 

11 

112 

112 

5 

5 

7.333 

8,053 

736 

91 

Kern  River _- 

McKittrick 

Midway-SuDset  

Lost  HilLs-Belridge 

Coalinga 

Santa  Maria-Lompoc 

Ventura  County  and  Newhall 
Los  Angeles  and  Salt  Lake.— 

Whittier-FuUerton    

Summerland  .- 

Watsonville  

Totals    - 


The  proportion  of  heavy  and  light  oil  produced  in  the  various  field-s 
is  shown  by  the  following  figures,  for  which  we  are  indebted  to  the 
Standard  Oil  Company.  Oil  below  18°  Baume  may  be  considered  as 
largely  imrefinable,  or  fuel  oil;  while  the  lighter  oils  yield  varying 
{.mounts  of  refined  products  and  a  veiy  large  proportion  of  residuum 
and  fuel  oil.  A  few  years  ago.  the  total  amount  of  heavy  oil  was  in 
excess  of  the  light  oil. 

Production  of  Light  and    Heavy  Oil,   by   Fields,  1917. 


Kern  River  

McKittrick  - 

Midway-Sunset 

Lost  Hills-Belridge 

Coalinga   

Santa  Maria-Lompoc 

Ventura  County  and  Newhall. 

Los  Angeles  and  Salt  Lake 

Whittier-Fullerton  

Summerland 

Watsonville 


Totals 


Under  18o 
(barrels) 


ISO  and  over 
(barrels) 


8,495,610 

3,252,544 

10,192  405 

1,478,867 

5,693,557 

2.052,2-0 

125,664 

1,204,386 

250,247 

56,570 


32,802.130 


26,367,740 
4,816,462 

10,244.986 

3,745,790 

1,060,743 

297,413 

17,905,193 


27,375 


64,465,702 


Total 
(barrels) 


8,495,610 
3,252,544 

36,560,145 
6,295,329 

15,938,543 
5,798  070 
1,186,407 
1,501,799 

18,155,440 
56,570 
27,375 


97,267,832 


Financial   Results. 

Financial  results  of  the  oil  business  during  1917,  are  shown  by  the 
following  tables.  The  outstanding  features  are :  1.  the  substantial 
increa.se  of  prices  for  all  grades  over  the  1916  figures;  2.  a  decrease  in 
nearly  all  fields  in  the  number  of  barrels  per  well  per  daj'  yield ;  3.  an 
increase  in  operating  costs  per  barrel,  re.sulting  in  raising  the  cost  per 


22 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


well  per  day.  Because  of  the  bringing  in  of  a  number  of  gusher  wells 
iu  the  Montebello  field,  the  figures  for  the  Los  Angeles-Orange  group 
show  an  increase  in  the  barrels  per  well  per  day  yield,  and  a  consequent 
decrease  in  the  cost  of  operations  per  barrel  in  .spite  of  the  higher  costs 
of  labor  and  materials  prevailing.  The  profitable,  or  dividend-paying 
companies  received  a  slightly  higher  figure  for  their  product  than  the 
average  market  price,  probably  due  to  the  higher  grade  of  oil  produced 
by  theiii.  It  is  also  noticeable  that  their  production  cost  per  barrel  is 
usually  lower  tliau  the  average,  due  to  the  fact  that  their  wells  are  more 
productive.  Operating  cast  per  well  is  not  always  lower  for  the  divi- 
dend companies  than  otliers.  l'rofital)le  operations  seem  to  depend 
generally  upon  large  wells,  high-grade  oil,  and  proximity  to  market. 
There  is  nothing  to  indicate  that  unnatural  causes  or  manipulations 
have  affected  the  profits  of  one  producer  against  another.  It  may  l)e 
noted  that  both  price  and  profits  are  greater  in  the  Los  Angeles-Orange- 
Ventura  fields  than  in  others,  doubtless  largely  due  to  the  proximity  to 
market  and  higher  grades  of  oil. 

In  addition  to  consuming  the  current  production  of  crude  oil,  the 
storage  was  drawn  upon  at  an  average  rate  of  nearly  1,000,000  barrels 
per  month  during  1917.  According  to  the  Standard  Oil  Company,'  the 
stocks  on  hand  on  December  31,  1917,  amounted  to  32,450,4()5  barrels, 
a  decrease  of  11,585,725  barrels  from  the  ■44,036,190  barrels  on  hand 
December  31,  1916.  The  monthly  bulletins  of  the  Independent  Oil 
Producers  Agency  show  practically  the  same  results — 32,656,996  barrels, 
being  a  decrease  of  10,983,298  barrels. 

FiNANci.M.  ANi)  Operating  Condition  of  C'alifok.nia  Oil  Fields,  IStlT. 

Capitalization. 


Cnpllal 


Coallnga — - 

Kem  River 

Midway   

Sunset    — 

McKittrick,  Lost  Hills,  Belridge 

Santa  Barbara  County 

Ventura  County  

Los  Angeles  and  Orange  Counties 

Subtotals — - 

Miscellaneous    and    marketing    com- 
panies   

Totals    


=  =  £ 

=  ;_ 

SSI 

82= 

Cash 

Property 

y. 

b 

41 

29 

$4,529,741 

$2:^,351,800 

49 

38 

5,548,934 

4,757,038 

73 

!  '' 

C        5,221,762 
\         2,588,477 

45,087,263 

25 

6,049,340 

21 

51 

1,631,249 

3.037,868 

12 

27 

2,348,383 

4,289,080 

20 

64 

1,045,921 

2,403394 

30 

17 

4.388,934 

7,153,824 

271 

$27,303,401 

$96,129,607 

19 

16 

58,670,078  , 

1 

110,211,509 

294 



-  $85,973,479 

$206,341,116 

^Standard   Oil  Bulletin,   January,   1918. 


STATISTICS    OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


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STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  25 

Proved  Oil  Land. 

The  present  extent  of  proved  oil  land  in  California  as  determined  by 
the  State  Mining  Bureau  is  87,360  acres,  of  which  56,947  acres  are  in 
Kern  County  alone.  Fresno  County  is  second  on  the  list  with  12,993 
acres.  Estimates  of  the  total  amount  of  oil  which  can  be  recovered 
from  the  land  are  little  better  than  pure  guesses  but  it  does  seem  most 
probable  that  the  average  acre  will  ultimately  yield  much  less  than  fifty 
thousand  barrels. 

The  areas  of  proved  land  are  as  follows : 

County  !       Acres 


Fresno    _ - 12,99.3 

Kern   56,947 

Los  Angeles  2.401 

Orange   3,418 

Ventura  1,726 

Santa  Barbara 9.023 

San  Luis  Obispo 772 

Santa  Clara  _ ._ 80 

Total  _ 87,360 


2t'  MINKRAK    INDrsTRV    OF    CAI.IFOKNIA. 


CHAPTKR  THREE. 

METALS. 

'I'lii'  t<it;il  va'nu'  oi'  iiictjils  iiroduoetl  in  t'alifuniia  duriiiu'  11)] 7  was 
•+43,82(i,766.  The  chief  of  thesf  is.  ami  always  has  been,  gold,  followed 
ill  order  in  1917  by  copjier.  tungsten,  zinc,  ((uieksilver,  silver,  lead, 
iii.inganese,  antiiiumv .  |)hitiiuiin.  inolybdennni  and  iron.  Deposits  of 
ores  of  nickel  and  vaiiadiuiii  arc  also  to  be  fonnd  in  the  state,  although 
i'oi'  1917  there  was  no  coiniiiercial  on) put  of  them. 

California  leads  all  stati's  in  the  I'liion  in  her  gold  production  and 
llic  |)rccious  metal  is  widely  distriliutcd  throughout  the  state.  Twenty- 
six  oi  tile  tift.\ -eiiiht  eouiities  eoiitaiii  actively  operated  2'(ild  mines  or 
dredges. 

('opjier,  wliieli  is  second  in  iiii]>ortance  among  the  metals  of  the 
state,  occurs  in  the  following  general  districts:  the  Shasta  County  belt, 
which  is  b\'  far  the  most  inijiortant:  the  Coast  Range  deposits,  extend- 
ing mori'  or  less  contiiiiKiUsly  from  Del  .\orte  in  the  north  to  San  Lui.s 
Obispo  County  in  the  siiutli;  the  Sieri'a  Nevada  foothill  belt,  starting  in 
I'lumas  and  running  in  a  general  souilierly  and  southeasterly  direction 
through  the  ^lotber  Lode  counties  and  ending  in  Kern;  the  eastern  belt 
in  Mono  and  Inyo  counties:  and  the  southern  belt,  in  San  Bernardino, 
Eiversidc.  and  San  Diego  counties. 

Silver  is  not  generally  found  alone  in  the  state,  lint  is  associated  to 
a  greater  or  le.ss  extent  with  gold,  copper,  lead,  and  zinc. 

())nicksilvcr  has  for  many  years  been  one  of  the  state's  staple  products 
and  California  su]>]ilies  at  least  7.")  ])cr  cent  of  the  nation's  ont])Ut  of 
this  iiielal. 

Tungsten  is  found  in  but  few  other  localities  of  importance  in  the 
1  nited  States. 

Large  dejiosits  of  iron  ore  iiave  long  been  known  in  many  sections 
of  the  state,  but  for  various  economic  i-easons  this  branch  of  the  mineral 
industry  is  still  in  its  infancy  liei-e. 

The  riuctuatious  in  the  prii'cs  of  aluminum,  antimony,  e()])|)er,  lead, 
tin  and  zinc  since  the  beginning  of  the  war  are  shown  by  the  chart  hei-e- 
with.  I'cproduecd   fi'om  tlic  Steel  ami   .Metal  Digest. 


STATISTICS    OF    AXNUAI.    PRODUCTION. 


27 


J             1914                    1915                    1 

916                  1917                   1918            5 

?§fl5§gl?llillflE?g|?lliiiilSig    ' 

Ttn                               il                                                                                        A 

1    1 

1           Iti                          ;  i  71 

NORMAL    PRICES: 

"T  n                                 /I 

I'lKilllK    10]  S) 

!            ^    1 

Copiier    (Klcctro)     lii.Sfi 

li  ^ 

T,pn<l    (St.    Louis)    4.35 

Spelter    (St.    Louis) S.fil 

_     _                             'Alumhuim     - --     22.00      y^ 

300         (  1  1                               T   T 

Antimony  (nrdinary  grades)    9.81 

jiilre  (liuins  tlie  five  years  pre- 

i                               i            ! 

1                        cerliiiK  the  war.                                              | 

'"""t"'t^lit^5tii:i---- 

been      strictly      mmiiual      since 

1        ;                1     1                          1 

iiised    as   an    arbitrative    average      _.. 

ISO       ■   ~-     T                    II              (>  ■(-         —     ^     -f 

1      '                           f 

f  1        complete    this    chart. 

X~          tt\    -^^ 

/ 

\                   T  ±\  r  i  '- 

""^"4t"r"^i  """i 

-  -   ^ ' 

"    ^  5  ^        

iJivir     ' 

'•K          1  1;                        J                              \ 

'                   1     |S,  1     1 

vrj^'w-^'x^"'-'-^--^-^-    ' 

1               i  1  '^  1    [       '-1 

i  $  t^'MLU-i  T         ' 

M      '            1 

f>'% 

1    i    ,        '^                         ' 

,150                   -\-       "'                     '    '     !             ^  ^J   \     ^ 

■     )h  '   .  \i                                                        \  ■ 

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t  Ij  t    '-"" t 

", L  ^:fmlJ .1  ^ + 

j                        'IL     1    'il 

''^~~.^^   %\'h%t 1- 

,..             i                     7 1  f           1 

l/'/i,    V     /^•^if.    \  \\     }                                           .  100 

100                                  /          ' 

y'       b  !\'\   IV 

'                        /  / 

A/    \l)i\\    \W      !        ^ 

1                  /i      .!         1   ;(i-^ 

'V       \   Ki  \,1\V 

i             /■/'  ■  11       l,n 

.X'U  I  V4ntJ:::v t 

1    -0          '                            /  '           ^               j/ 

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!          ^     ''  '     ;'     i      '  ^-(<v 

'3 ''  y  2    '^&  <  t 

"±ZTv"cr'(tt^j^  m 

Y'iZtit:z:::^:st i 

^     \    ''        ■     _L         ±_L                          ^ 

'      '      \n    '      -'/    ^i}"^'{.-'' 

\        .>v.                                                      ! 

-  --^ttona,  \^'  '' '  i  r'^'\  ir 

V-                       '               ' 

.-^~'-|*'r           ^'      /t                  /               "*■        ' 

:■ 

i      °^  /^~V-'^-^'  i        1    !! 

1 

!      ..„                          ^-— 

T1+-'                         1 

hilt               1 

Copper Tin Uai/ 

Alirminiim. Sne/ftr:. An^irronV 

Monthly  price  fluctuations  of  copper,  tin.  lead,  spelter,  antimony  and  aluminum  since  January,   1914.   plotted 
on  a  percentage  basis  of  above  and  below  normal  (zero).      (After  Steel  and  Metal  Digest,  April,    1918.) 


28 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY   OF    CALIFORNIA. 


A  comparison  of  the  1917  niotal  output  with  that  of  IDIH  is  afforded 
by  the  following  table : 


Increase+ 

Decrease —  • 

value 


Antimony  ore 

Cadmium    

Copper    

<4olcl   — -. 

Iron  ore  

Lead    

Manganese  ore  _  — 
Molybii?num    ore 

Platinum   

Ouicltsilver   

Silver  


.f64,7»3 


55,809,019  lbs. 


Timgsten  concentrates 
!5inc 


Totals  ... 
Net   decrease 


3.000  tons 
O.IM  ton."! 
13,404  ton."! 
8  tons 
886  ounces 
21,427  flasks 


2.270  tons 
15,950,563  lbs. 


13,729,017 

21,410,741 

6,000 

855,019 

274.601 

9,945 

42,642 

2,003,425 

1,637,345    . 

4,571,521  i 


158  tons 


48,534,611  lbs. 


$18,786 


$46,007- 


2,874  tons 

10,826  tons 

15,515  tons 

243  tons 

610  ounces 

24,382  flasks 

2.463  tons 


2,137,375  I  11,854,804  lbs. 


13,249,948 

47J,039— 

20,087,504 

1,323,237— 

11,496 

5.496+ 

1,862.016 

1. 005,067 -t- 

396,(159 

!22.ft58+ 

9,014 

931— 

43,719 

1.077+ 

2,396.4(!S 

393,041  + 

1.462,955 

224,390— 

3.079,013 

1,492,508— 

1,209,190 

928,185- 

$46,792,454  ' !  $43,826,763 


If2,9e5,688— 


•Concealed  under  unapportioned. 

ALUMINUM. 
Bibliographii :  Bulletins  38,  67. 
No  workable  depo.sits  of  bauxite  have  been  diseovered  in  the  state, 
although  from  time  to  lime  small  quantities  of  the  impure  material  have 
been  the  foundalion  of  extravagant  reports  regarding  such  discoveries. 

ANTIMONY. 
TiibJiography:  State  Mineralogi.st  Reports  XTT,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletin  38. 

Antimony  is  known  to  exist  in  a  number  of  places  in  California, 
having  been  reported  from  Kern,  Inyo,  Nevada,  Riverside,  San  Benito, 
and  Santa  Clara  counties.  The  Kern  County  depo.sits,  some  of  which 
carry  metallic  antimony,  are  possibly  the  best  known,  and  efforts  were 
made  to  work  some  of  them  before  California  was  a  part  of  the  United 
States.  The  commonest  nceurrence  is  in  the  form  of  the  sulphide, 
stibnite.  No  continuous  production,  however,  has  been  maintained,  the 
output  for  1915  being  the  first  reported  since  1901. 

From  the  low  point  of  'lAiif-  to  7.11^  per  pound,  according  to  brand 
in  July,  1914,  the  price  of  antimony  rose  gradually,  though  not  steadily 
to  44^  by  the  middle  of  January,  1916.  American  antimony,  for  the 
first  time  in  many  years,  appeared  on  the  market  in  competition  with 
the  Chinese  and  Japanese  product.  From  $1.00  to  $2.25  per  unit  was 
paid  for  ore.  and  at  first  a  minimum  of  50%  accepted;  but,  later,  some 
lower  grade  ore  was  .smelted.  The  price  remained  at  44^  (San  Fran- 
cisco quotations')  until  the  middle  of  April,  1916,  then  declined  quite 
rapidly  to  10^  in  August.     It  remained  around  that  figure  and  up  to 


STATISTICS    OP    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


29 


14^.  closing  the  year  at  12^  per  pound  and  .$1.00  per  unit.  If  the  price 
drop.s  below  12(^  per  pound  for  the  metal,  few  if  any  of  the  Califoi-nia 
mines  can  operate  profitably.  In  1917  the  price  made  a  sharp  upward 
jump  in  ^lareh  and  April,  but  .is  sharply  declined  again  immediately 
after. 

During  1917  in  California  there  was  mined  and  sold  a  total  of  158 
tons  of  antimony  ore,  valued  at  $18,786,  by  eight  producers  in  Kern 
County  and  one  in  San  Benito  County.  The  Wild  Ruse  mine  in  Inyo 
County  which  made  the  largest  individual  output  in  1916,  did  not 
operate  in  1917.  The  Kern  County  ores  carried  27%-53%  antimony, 
and  the  San  Benito  ore  39. 7f; . 

The  production  by  years  since  1887  has  been  as  follows: 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1887 

1888  -.  .      . 

75 
100 
50 
150 
33 
17 
20 
40 

$15,500 
20,000 
2,250 
6,000 
1,485 
2,320 
3,500 
.1,200 

1899 

1900 

1901 

1915 

75 
70 
50 

510 
1.015 

158 

$13,500 
5,700 

1893 

1894 

8,350 
35,666 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1916 

1917 

Totals 

64,793 

18,786 

2,363 

$199,050 

BISMUTH. 

Bibliography :  Bulletins  38,  67.     Am.  Jour.  Sci.  1903,  Vol.  16. 

Several  bismuth  minerals  have  been  found  in  California,  notably 
native  bismuth  and  bismite  (the  ochre)  in  the  tourmaline  gem  district 
in  San  Diego  and  Riverside  counties  near  Pala.  Other  occurrences  of 
l)ismuth  minerals,  including  the  sulphide,  bismuthinite,  have  been  noted 
in  Inyo,  Fresno,  Nevada,  Tuolumne  and  ]\Iouo  counties,  but  only  in 
small  quantities.  The  only  commercial  production  recorded  was  20 
tons  valued  at  $2,400.  in  1904,  and  credited  to  Riverside  County. 

Recovery  of  bismuth  from  blister  copper  in  the  electrolytic  refinei*y 
has  been  noted",  ranging  as  high  as  27.3  pounds  of  metallic  bismuth 
per  100  tons  of  blister  copper  from  the  Iron  ilountain,  Shasta  Count}', 
ores. 

The  uses  of  bismuth  are  .somewhat  restricted,  being  employed  princi- 
pallj'  in  the  preparation  of  medicinal  salts,  and  in  low  melting-point 
or  cliche  alloys.  These  alloys  are  utilized  in  automatic  fii'e  sprinkler 
.systems,  in  electrical  fuses,  and  in  solders. 


•Trans.  Am.  Inst.  Min.  Eng-.,  Vol.   47,  pp.  217-218. 


30  MIN'RUAI.    INDI'STKV    OF    C.\[,1F0RKI A. 

CADMIUM. 

Ill  1!)17.  several  llioiisaud  ixiuuds  of  cadmium  melal,  in  stielcs,  was 
i-ee(i\i'red  liy  the  eleel I'lilyt ie  ziiie  plant  of  the  iMaiiiiiiiilli  CopiKM'  Com- 
pany in  Shasta  County.  This  is  tlie  first  ccimmereial  production  of 
this  metal  recorded  in  ( 'jdil'ornia.  As  there  was  only  the  one  pi'iulueer, 
the  exact  tisiures  and  value  are  eoiieealed  under  the  '  unappoii  ioned' 
ilcni. 

The  eadiiiiimi  (lecui's  associaled  with  the  zinc  sulphide,  sphalerite, 
pi-(ilialil\-  as  the  sulphide.  i;i-eeiii)ekil e.  The  prin<'ipal  nsivs  ol'  cadiuium 
are  ill  Inw-nicltiiii^  point,  or  cHelic  alloys,  and  in  the  iiiannfaeture  ol' 
paint  pifi'iiicnts.  The  eadiniiiiii  allu>s  are  said  to  lie  snperioi-  for  soiiic 
piirpdses  to  similar   liisniuth   compounds. 

COPPER. 

Ilililioiinijilnj:  State  .M  inei  alduist  Reports  \'li.  X  1  11 .  XIW  X\'. 
Hiillelins  L':-i.  ;")(). 

Coppci-  is  one  (d'  the  staple  mineral  products  of  the  state.  Iiciiii;  [iro- 
duced  chiefly  in  Shasta  Couidy.  with  smaller  amounts  hut  in  excess  of 
one  million  ])innids  of  copper  each,  from  Calaxeras.  Placer.  I'lnmas  ami 
Trinity  coiuitics.  In  liMT.  some  yield  in  ij-rcater  or  hss  amoiinl.  was 
re|)orted  from  a  total  of  "2(1  counties,  'ilie  prodni'tion  for  the  yi^ar  was 
48.,"):U.()1 1  pounds,  valued  at  $l-'i.l^-l!).!)4S,  whicli  is  a  decrea.se  of  ahout 
1  in  quantity,  hut  of  only  ahout  \-,r.  in  total  valui^  as  comimrcd  with 
191G.  The  P^uroiiean  war  ha.s  caused  a  tfreatly  inerea.sed  demand  for 
co]iper  to  mak(>  hrass  for  shells  of  ail  calihers.  as  well  as  other  reiiuire- 
mciits.  This  has  rai.scd  the  price  From  the  1914  average  of  13. IW  to 
IT.r)^*  per  jiuund  in  1915;  24. (if-  in  191(5;  and  27.3^  in  1917.  On  Scp- 
temher  21.  1917.  the  V.  S.  (roverument  fixed  copper  prices  at  23.5^  per 
11).  for  lai'tje  lots,  and  24.H7ir  for  small  lots,  effective  until  June  1,  1918. 

Inqu'ovements  jiave  been  made  in  the  method  of  handliufr  smelter 
smoke.  Flotation  concentration  is  l)eing  successfully  employed  by  th(! 
Engels  Copper  Company  and  at  tlie  Walker  JMine  in  Plumas  County, 
liy  the  Calavera.s  Copper  Conqiany  in  Calaveras  County,  and  by  tln' 
^lannnoth  Copper  Com])any  in  Shasta  ('ounty.  and  some  others. 


STATISTICS    OF    AXNf.M;    PRODrOTION.  31 

Distribution  of  the  output,  by  i-ciuiilii's,  for  1917,  was  as  follows: 


County 

Poilluls 

Valium 

Amador  ._. 

19,;«2 

7,720.861 

18,982 

40.662 

17.'>,273 

251.225 

.372.123 

.5:?.381 

1(1,165 

71(1,6111 

7,462,870 

28,S38 

],220,:ri6 

15i),34!t 

2.s,(««,990 

13,031 

.'<S8,043 

:!2.840 

1,316,669 

$5,283 
"  107  7% 

Calaveras 

El  DorsKio 

5  18-' 

Tresno     ... 

11,101 

Iiiji)      _ _    .. 

47,8,50 

Krrn    ._ 

68,.584 

-Madera    _     __     _     _     __       _              __ 

l(>1..5ftit 

-Mariposa   . 

I4,.57:f 

Nevada    ... 

10.9(i5 

Plaeer    ,.  _ 

11)3,99 1 

Hnnias   --, 

2,037,-364 

Kiver.^ide  . 

7,873 

•Sail  Bcniai 

dino  .. 

3.3.3,1.57 

.S;in  Diego 

43..502 

7.646.727 

Sierra    ..  . 

3..5.5K 

Sislviyou 

242.4;W 

Tuolumne 

8.965 

Butte.    Del 

Oraiiffe,  ' 

Norte, 

'rinity. 

Glenn,    Imperial,    Mono,    Napa, 
Tulare*  

3,59,449 

Totals 

48,534,611 

$13,249,948 

'(""ombined  to  conceal   output   of  individual  mines   in   each. 

Amount  and  value  of  copper  production  in  California  annually  since 
.such  records  have  been  compiled  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  is  given 
in  the  following  tabulation: 


Year       ,      Pounds   1   Value  Year 


1887 '  1,600.000  $192,000  1K04 29.974.1.54  $.3,969,995 

1888 1,570,021  235,303  1905 16,997,489  2,650,605 

1889 151,505  18,180  1906 28,726,448  5,522,712 

1890  _ 23,347  3,502  1907 32,602,945  6,341,387 

1891 3,397,455  424,675  1908 40,868,772  5,350.777 

1892 2,980,944  342,808  1909 65,727,736  8,478,142 

1893 239,682  21,571  1910 • 53.721,032  6.680,641 

1894 738,594  72,486  1911 36,838,024  4,604,753 

1895 225,650  21,901  1912 34,169,997  5,638,049 

1896 1,992,844  199,519  1913 34,471,118  5,343,023 

1897 13,638,626  1,540,666  1914 30,491,535  4,055,375 

1898 21,543,229  2,475,168  1915 40,968,966  7,169,567 

1899 23,915,486  3,990,534  1916 55,809,019  13,729,017 

1900 29,515,512  4,748,242  1917 48,.>M,611  13,249.948 

1901 34,931,788  5,501,782 

1902 27,860,162  3,239,975     Totals 733,340,5.52  $118,333,300 

1903 19,113,861  2,520,997 


32  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

GOLD. 

Bibliography.  State  Mineralogist  Reports,  I  to  XV  (inc.).  Bulle- 
tins 36,  45,  57.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Prof.  Pap.  73. 

Gold  is  one  of  the  most  important  mineral  products  of  California. 
For  a  number  of  years  up  to  1916  there  was  a  marked  tendency  toward 
increased  activity  in  gold  mining,  as  investors  realized  that  many  of 
the  mines  and  prospects  have  not  been  exhausted.  The  increase  in 
costs  of  all  supplies,  labor  and  transportation  due  to  the  war,  has  made 
i1  increasingly  difficult  for  the  gold  miner  to  keep  his  "head  above 
water."  The  gold  output  of  not  only  California,  but  of  the  other 
western,  gold  states  is  .showing  an  alarming  decrease.  The  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury,  recently  stated  that:  "At  no  time  has  this  country 
so  nujch  recjuired  the  largest  ])ossil)le  ])r()(luction  of  gold  as  at  present. 
Next  to  food  and  aiiiiinuiition.  gold  is  one  of  the  most-needed  war 
essentials.  In  order  to  ])lace  the  (inormous  amount  of  Government 
bonds  required  to  tinance  our  war  expenditures  a  large  credit  structure 
will  inevitably  b6  erected  on  our  gold  reserves,  and  it  is  necessary  that 
these  reserves,  which  are  the  foundation  of  the  structure,  shall  be  main- 
tained on  the  broadest  possible  basis." 

At  a  recent  conference  in  San  Fraiicisoo  between  The  Director  of 
the  Mint  and  the  princii)al  California  gold  producers,  concrete  examphw 
of  the  effects  of  the  situation  were  presented.  The  tigurcs  given  by 
one  of  the  large  operators  on  the  Mother  Lode  are  typical :  In  1914,  it 
cost  that  compan.v  $12  per  tine  ounce  to  produce  the  gold  in  the  ])ullion 
shipped;  in  1915,  $14;  in  1916,  $16;  in  1917,  $18;  and  for  the  first  six 
months  of  1918,  the  cost  was  $20  per  oz.  Their  output  has  averaged 
$700,000  per  year  for  several  years  past.  It  must  be  borne  in  mind 
that  the  gold  miner  receives  from  the  Mint,  $20  per  fine  oz.  for  the  gold. 

It  does  not  seem  feasible  to  raise  the  value  per  ounce  of  fine  gold,  as 
that  would  upset  financial  calculations  the  world  over,  as  gold  is  the 
basis  against  which  everything  else  is  figured.  Possibly  some  sort  of 
preference  or  priority  can  be  given  to  gold  mines  in  the  matter  of  sup- 
plies and  transportation ;  or  a  subsidy  for  the  period  of  the  war.  The 
situation  really  is  serious,  and  is  being  given  serious  consideration. 

The  State  Mining  Bureau  has  never  independently  collected  statistics 
of  gold  and  silver  production,  as  there  is  no  necessity  for  duplicating 
the  very  thoroughly  organized  work  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  cov- 
ering those  metals.  The  data  here  given  relative  to  these  two  metals 
has  been  received  through  the  courtesy  and  cooperation  of  Mr.  Charles 
G.  Yale,  Statistician  in  Charge  of  the  San  Francisco  branch  office  of 
the  Division  of  Mineral  Resources.  Anyone  wishing  fuller  details  of 
the  production  of  these  metals  may  obtain  the  same  by  applying  to  the 
U.  S.  Geological  Survey,   Washington,  D.   C,  or  to  Room  305,   U.  S. 


STATISTICS   OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  33 

Custom  House,  San  Francisco,  Ciil.,  for  a  copy  of  the  "separate"  on  the 
subject. 

"In  1917  there  were  490  properties  reporting  production  in  California,  of  which  241 
were  deep  mines  and  249  placers.  The  producing  deep  mines  of  1917  may  be  classi- 
fied by  chief  metallic  product  as  follows:  Gold,  145;  copper,  48;  silver,  3;  silver-lead, 
24;  lead,  19;  and  zinc.  2.  Of  the  placer  mines  71  were  hydraulic — 16  less  than  in 
1916;  55  were  dredges — 5  less  than  in  1916;  53  were  drift — 14  less  than  in  1916;  and 
70  were  surface  or  sluicing  mines — 6  less  than  in  1916.  There  were  altogether  43 
less  placer  mines  producing  than  in  1916.  Of  the  deep  mines  there  were  59  less 
gold  mines,  12  less  copper,  2  more  silver,  6  more  silver-lead  and  1  less  zinc;  there 
were,  therefore,  56  less  deep  mines  productive  in  1917  than  in  1916.  The  dredges  are 
enumerated  by  the  number  of  boats  at  work,  some  companies  operating  only  one 
and   others   several. 

"The  total  value  of  the  gold,  silver,  copper,  lead  and  zinc  produced  in  California 
in  1917  shows  a  decrease  of  5.19  per  cent.  Gold  showed  a  decrease  of  6. IS  per  cent. 
In  copper  the  decrease  was  14  per  cent  in  quantity  and  4  per  cent  in  value;  in  zinc 
it  was  2. 87  per  cent  in  quantity  and  4.57  per  cent  in  value;  in  lead  there  was  an 
increase  of  7.62  per  cent  in  quantity  and  1.19  per  cent  in  value;  in  silver  a  decrease 
of  3.07  per  cent  in  quantity  and  13.29  per  cent  in  value.  The  yield  of  gold  from  deep 
mines  decreased  14.19  per  cent,  and  the  placers  increased  their  yield  5.81  per  cent. 

•  •  • 

"The  total  production  of  gold  in  California  in  1917  was  971,732.99  fine  ounces, 
valued  at  $20,087,504,  a  decrease  of  64,011.60  line  ounces,  valued  $1,323,237.  The  deep 
mines  of  the  state  yielded  532,776.80  fine  ounces  of  gold,  valued  at  $11,013,474.  Of 
the  deep  mine  gold  93  per  cent  was  derived  from  siliceous  ore,  6  per  cent  from  copper 
ore.  .008  per  cent  from  silver-lead  ore  and  the  remainder  from  lead  and  zinc  ores. 

"The  decrease  in  the  gold  output  of  the  state  was  due  to  war  conditions  which 
brought  about  much  higher  costs  of  labor  and  supplies,  causing  a  curtailment  of 
operations  among  the  larger  mines  and  a  total  stoppage  of  work  on  smaller  ones, 
as  explained  more  in  detail  in  another  portion  of  this  chapter.  While  the  deep-mine 
gold  output  was  materially  decreased,  that  from  the  placers  was  increased  by 
J49S.373,  due  mainly  to  larger  returns  of  the  gold  dredging  operations.  The  dredges 
yielded  $544,300  in  1917  more  than  in  1916.  Since  gold  dredging  commenced  in  Cali- 
fornia in  1898,  the  total  output  of  gold  from  that  source  to  the  end  of  1917  has  been 
$95.1S6,9S5.  Since  189S  the  Oroville  (Butte  County)  dredging  Held  has  yielded 
530.160,486,  not  including  $2,058,192  derived  in  the  last  eight  years  from  adjacent 
districts  in  the  same  county.  The  Marvsville  (Yuba  County)  field  has  produced 
from  1903  to  1917,  inclusive,  $28,119,067  in  gold;  the  Folsom  (Sacramento  County) 
field  has  yielded  since  1902  from  dredging  gold  valued  at  $21,835,675.  Quite  a  large 
number  of  dredges  operated  in  various  localities  in  other  counties  of  the  state,  but 
their  output  of  gold  is  not  included  in  these  figures  relating  to  the  more  extensive 
dredge  fields  named. 

■The  placer  yield  of  gold  in  1917  in  California  was  438,956.19  fine  ounces,  valued 
at  $9,074,030.  The  placer  mines  produced  45  per  cent  of  the  gold  yield  of  1917.  and 
Uie  deep  mines  55  per  cent,  as  compared  with  4'l  per  cent  for  tlie  placers  in  1916  and 
60  per  cent  for  the  deep  mines.  The  dredges  produced  41  per  cent  of  the  total  gold 
yield  from  all  sources  in  1917.  Of  the  total  placer  gold,  the  dredges  produced  91.6 
per  cent,  the  hydraulic  mines  3  per  cent,  the  drift  mines  4  per  cent,  and  the  surface; 
or  sluicing  mines  1.4  per  cent.  It  is  probable  that  this  percentage  from  surface 
placers  is  too  high  since  in  the  returns  received  at  the  ofiice  of  the  United  States 
Geological  Survey  large  numbers  of  miners  classify  themselves  as  working  placers 
without  specifying  the  exact  kind.  Some  of  these  may  have  been  small  hydraulic 
or  drift  mines  instead  of  mere  surface  sluicing  mines.  Tlie  three  larger  and  more 
important  dredging  fields  of  the  State  are  at  Oroville,  Butte  County;  Folsom,  Sacra- 
mento County  ;  and  Marysville,  Yuba  County.  Dredges  are  also  operated  in  7  other 
counties — 5  in  Calaveras,  1  in  Merced,  3  in  Placer,  3  in  Shasta,  3  in  Siskiyou.  1  in 
.Stanislaus,  and  4  in  Trinity.  The  Yuba  County  dredges,  12  in  number,  made  the 
largest  output  of  gold  in  1917,  the  value  being  $3,659,211.  an  increase  of  $519,061  as 
compared  witii  1916.  Sacramento  County  with  12  dredges  at  work  made  an  output 
of  $1,913,504.  an  increase  of  $84,026.  In  Butte  County  (including  Uroville  and  the 
•outside'  districts)  11  dredges  produced  $839,141,  or  $371,733  less  than  in  1916.  This 
statement  shows  that  $231,354  more  gold  was  obtained  in  these  three  districts  in 
1917  than  in  1916.   although  one  of  them — the  oldest — shows  a  material  decrease. 

"Of  the  26  counties  producing  gold  in  1917  in  California.  5  yielded  no  placer  gold, 
and  6  yielded  no  gold  from  deep  mines.  Five  counties  produced  more  than  $1,000,000 
each  in  gold  in  1917  as  follows:  Nevada,  $3,682,947;  Yuba.  $3,677,673;  Amador,  $3,664,- 
164;  Sacramento.  $1,919,581;  and  Calaveras.  $1,471,442.  The  leading  hydraulic  mining 
i;ounty  was  Siskiyou;  the  greatest  producer  of  gold  from  drift  mines  was  Placer; 
the  largest  producer  of  gold  from  dredges  was  Yuba;  and  the  largest  producer  of 
gold  from  surface  or  sluicing  mines  was  Siskiyou.  The  largest  increase — $509,950 — 
in  gold  in  1917,  as  compared  with  1916.  was  in  Yuba  County,  which  was  followed  by 
Trinity,    with   $166,555. 

«  «  • 

"The  principal  counties  which  showed  a  decreased  gold  output  in  1917.  as  com- 
pared with  1916,  were  as  follows:  Tuolumne.  $547,152;  Sierra,  $339,828;  Kl  Dorado, 
$337,063  ;   Butte,   $334,960  ;  Kern,   $209,190.    '    *   « 

•  *  • 

"From  the  siliceous  ore  and  tailings  the  recovery  of  gold  by  methods  of  treatment 
in  California  in  1917  was  as  follows:  By  amalgamation.  376.0S9.25  fine  ounces,  valued 
at  $7,774,455;  by  cyanidation,  22,649.32  fine  ounces,  valued  at  $468,203;  by  chlorina- 
tion,  9.100.74  fine  ounces,  valued  at  $188,129  ;  from  concentrates  sent  to  smelters  for 
treatment,   85,284.79   ounces,    valued   at    $1,762,993.     These    figures   may    be    considered 

3—40563 


■'4  MINHKAI,    IN'urSTin'    ()!•'    CAIJKOHNIA. 

as  apiMcixiiinalf  unly  since  tlie  smallfr  operators,  many  in  number,  kept  no  separate 
:u-c-ounls;  and  even  the  larger  companies  do  not  alwavs  account  lor  quantities  of 
Kold  gained  by  separate  .systems  of  treatment. 

*  *  * 

"The  249  productive  placer  mines  in  California  in  i:il7  vieldi-d  gold  valued  at 
$9,074,030.  and  27.257  ounces  of  silver,  valued  at  .1i22.4i;o.  a  total  value  of  $9,096,490 
The  increase  in  placer  gold  was  $49S.373  and  the  increase  in  the  value  of  silver  was 
$2,976.  In  production  of  gold  the  dredge  properties  showed  an  increase  of  $544,300, 
the  hydraulic  mines  a  decrease  of  $122,912.  the  drift  mines  an  increase  of  $115,462, 
and  the  sui-face  or  .sluicing  mines  a  decrease  of   $38,477." 

The  g-olcl  production  of  Cnlifornia  for  1017  was  distributed,  by 
counties,  as  follows : 


County 


11  I 

Ainailor .$.3,664,164  '  Placer .$.538,686 

Biitto 922,271  I  Plumas    131, 9.W 

Calaveras   1,471,442  |:  Sacramento   1,919,.')81 

Pel  Norte 1,373  il  San  Bernartiino   154,976 

Kl  Dorado 24,758  '  Shasta 775,125 

Krcsno  5,745;  Sierra ,384,428 

HumholfU    23,086  ;i  Siskiyou  325,.5.".(l 

Imperial   919!  Trinity    602,048 

Jnvo 12.5,394    Tuohuunc 321,085 

Kern    --           .537,852    Yuba  ._  3,677,673 

Madera    18,914    Merced  and  Stanislaus* 2.5.5,196 

.Mariposa  '  ,313,296                                                          

Mono  209,040           Total    $20,087,.504 

Nevada    i  3,682,947  li 

\ l!     I 

•Combined  to  coni'cal  output  of  a  single  property  in  each. 

Total  Gold  Production  of  California. 

The  following  table  wa.s  compiled  by  Chas.  G.  Yale,  of  the  Division 
of  Mineral  Resourees.  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  but  for  a  number  of  years 
statistician  of  the  California  State  ^lining  liureau  and  the  U.  S.  Mint 
at  San  Francisco.  The  authorities  chosen  for  certain  periods  were: 
■L  D.  Whitney,  state  geologist  of  California;  John  Arthur  Phillips, 
Mitbor  of  "Mining  and  Metallurgy  of  Gold  and  Silver"  (1867)  ;  U.  S. 
..Mining  Comihissioner  R.  \V.  Raj-niond;  U.  S.  Mining  Commissioner 
J.  Ro.ss  Browne;  Win.  P.  Blake,  Commissioner  from  California  to  the 
Paris  Exposition,  where  he  made  a  report  on  "Precious  Metals"  (1867)  ; 
John  J.  Valentine,  author  for  many  yeai's  of  the  annual  report  on 
precious  metals  published  by  Wells  Fargo  &  Company's  Express;  and 
Louis  A.  Garnett,  in  the  early  days  manager  of  the  San  Francisco 
refinery,  where  records  of  gold  receipts  and  .shipments  were  kept.  Mr. 
Yale  obtained  other  data  from  the  reports  of  the  director  of  the  U.  S. 
^liiit  and  the  director  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey.  The  authorities 
referred  to,  who  were  alive  at  the  time  of  the  original  compilation  of 
this  table  in  1894,  were  all  consulted  in  person  or  by  letter  by  Mr.  Yale 
with  reference  to  the  correctness  of  their  published  data,  and  the  final 
table  quoted  was  then  made  up. 


STATISTICS    OK    ANN'UAI,    TRom  ■CTII  IN'. 


Hf) 


'I'lii'    lii;:iii'i's  siiii-c    llld!    .iri'   llidsr    |irc|i;ircil    li\'    llic    I'.    S.    ( icdloLrical 
Siirvcv  ; 


1848 
1849 
1850 
1851 
1852 
1853 
1854 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 


$245,301 
10,151,360 
41,273.106 
75,938,232 
81,294,700 
67,613,487 
69,433,931 
55,485,395 
57,509,411 
43,628,172 
46,591,140 
45,846,599 
44,095,163 
41,884,995 
38,854,668 
23,501,736 
24.071,423 
17,930,858 
17,123,867 
18,265,452 
17,555,867 
18,229,044 
17,458,133 
17.477.885 
15.482.194 
15.019.210 
17,264,836 
16,876,009 
15,610,723 
16,501,268 
18,839,141 
19,626,654 
20,030,761 
19,223,155 
17,146,416 
24,316,873  . 


18^! 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 


Total 


$13,600,000 
12,661,044 
14,716,506 
13.588,614 
12,750,000 
11,212,913 
12,309,793 
12.728,869 
12,571,900 
12,422,811 
13.923,281 
15,334,317 
17,181.562 
15.871,401 
15,906,478 
15,336,031 
15.863,355 
16,989,044 
16,910,320 
16,471,264 
19,109,600 
19,197.043 
18,732.452 
16,727,928 
18,761,559 
20,237,870 
19,715,440 
19,738,908 
19,713,478 
20,406,958 
20,653,496 
22,442,296 
21,410,741 
2O,087..5O4 


$1,672,681,941 


IRIDIUM   (>ec  under   I'latinum.l. 

IRON  ORE. 
Bibliography :  State  Mineralogi.st  Keports,  II,  IV,  V,  X,  XII,  XIII, 
XIV,  XV.     Bulletins  38,  67.      Am.  Inst.  :Min.  Eng.,  Trans.  LIII. 
Min.  &  Sei.  Press,  Vol.  115,  pp.  112,  117-122. 
Iron  ore  to  the  extent  of  2,874  tons,  valued  at  .$11,496,  was  produced 
in  San  Bernardino  and  Shasta  counties  during  the  year  1917.     It  was 
utilized  in  the  production  of  pig  iron,  ferro-manganese,  ferro-silicon, 
and  ferro-chrome  mainly  by  electric  furnace  reduction. 

There  are  considerable  deposits  of  iron  ore  known  in  California, 
notably  in  Shasta,  Madera,  Placer,  Riverside  and  San  Bernardino 
counties,  but  production  has  so  far  been  limited,  on  account  of  our 
having  no  economic  supply  of  coking  coal.      Further  developments 


36 


MINERAL  INDUSTRY  OP  CALIFORNIA. 


along  the  liuc  of  electrical  smelting,  or  discoveries  making  available  our 
])etroleiim  fuel,  for  iron  reduction,  would  lead  to  considerable  increase  of 
iron  mining  in  California.  For  the  present,  at  least,  the  most  feasible 
possibilities  lie  in  utilizing  our  iron  resources  in  the  preparation  of  the 
various  alloys  such  as  ferro-chrome,  ferro-manganese,  ferro-molybde- 
num,  ferro-silieon  and  ferro-tungsten,  by  means  of  the  electric  furnace. 
California  possesses  commercial  deposits  and  is  now  producing  ores  of 
all  of  the  metals  just  enumerated.  In  addition  to  2  electric  smelting 
units  now  in  operation,  one  ))last  furnace  unit  is  working  in  Shasta 
County,  aiul  anotlier  in  San  Bernardino  is  said  to  be  ready. 

Total  iron  ore  production   in  the  state,  with  annual  amounts  and 
values,  is  as  follows: 


1881* 

1882  , 

1883  , 

1884  , 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1907 
1908 


t 


9,273 

2,073 

11,191 

4.532 


3,676 

19,250 

( 

250 
200 

2,000 

1,500 

400  1 

1 

400 

$79,452  1 1909 

17.766    1910 

106,540    1911 

40,983    1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 


108 

579 

558 

2,508 

2,343 

1,436 

724 

3.000 

2,874 


Totals 


45,725 


$174 

900 

558 

2,508 

4,485 

5,128 

2,584 

6,000 

11,496 


$301,724 


•Productions  for  the  years  18S1-1S86  (inc.)  were  reported  as  "tons  of  pig  iron." 
(U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res.  1SS5K  and  for  tlie  table  lierewith  are  calculated  to  "tons  of 
ore"  on  tlie  basis  of  47.6%  Fe  a.s  shown  b.v  an  average  of  analyses  of  the  ores  (State 
Mineralogist's  Report  IV.  p.  Zi'i).  This  early  production  of  pig  iron  was  from  the 
blast  furnaces  then  in  operation  at  Hotaling  in  Placer  County.  Charcoal  was  used 
In  lieu  of  coke.  Though  producing  a  superior  grade  of  metal,  they  were  obliged 
finally  to  close  down,  as  they  could  not  compete  with  the  cheaper  Englisli  and 
eastern  United  States  iron  brought  in  by  sea  to  San  Francisco. 

LEAD. 
Bibliography.  State  Mineralogi.st  Reports  IV,  VIII,  X,  XV. 
Lead  was  produced  during  1917.  to  the  extent  of  21,651,352  pounds 
which  at  8.6^  per  pound  was  valued  at  $1,862,016,  being  an  increase  of 
over  75%  in  amount  and  more  than  double  in  value  as  compared  to  the 
previous  year.  The  principal  yield  comes  from  Inyo  County,  followed 
by  San  Bernardino  in  second  place.  The  ores  are  mined,  and  shipped 
to  smelters.  On  account  of  the  European  war,  the  price  increased  from 
the  3.9<S  per  pound  average  of  1914,  to  4.7^  in  1915;  6.9«*  in  1916,  and 
8.6^  in  1917.  The  fluctuations  in  the  price  may  be  studied  from  the 
chart  reproduced  herewith  at  the  beginning  of  this  chapter  on  metals. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 

Couiity  returns  for  1917,  sliowiug  aiuounts  aud  values,  were : 


37 


County 

Pounds 

Valuo 

County 

Founds 

Value 

Butte 

378 

6,395 

19,318,642 

9,684 

221 
1,075 
1,912 
1,157 

$32 

San  Bernardino--. 

2,293,541 

8,725 

192 

997 

8,433 

$197,245 

550 
1,661,403 

Shasta    

750 

Siskiyou 

17 

Kern 

833 

19 

92 

164 

100 

Tuolumne  

86 

Amador,    Nevada, 
Orange*  

725 

Mono  -  

Totals 

21,651,352 

$1,862,016 

♦Combined  to  conceal  outrut  of  a  single  mine  in  each. 


Statistics  on  lead  production  in  California  were  first  compiled  by  this 
Bureau  in  1887.  Amount  and  value  of  the  output,  annually,  with  total 
figures,  to  date,  are  given  in  the  following  table : 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

. 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1887 

580 

450 
470 
400 
570 
680 
333 
475 
796 
646 
298 
328 
360 
520 
360 
175 
55 

$52,200 
38.250 
35,720 
36,000 
49.020 
54.400 
24.975 
28.500 
49,364 
38,805 
20,264 
23,907 
30.642 
41.600 
28,820 
12,230 
3,960 

1904. 
1905  . 
1906. 

1907  . 

1908  . 

1909  . 

1910  . 

1911  . 

1912  . 

1913  . 

1914  . 

1915  . 
1916. 
1917  . 

'1 

62 

266 

169 

164 

562 

1,343 

1,508 

701 

685 

1,820 

2,349 

2.398 

6,196 

10,826 

$5,270 

1888 

25,083 

1889 

19,307 

1890 

16,690 

1891 

46,663 

1892 

144,897 

1893 

134,082 

1894                           

63,173 

1895           

61,653 

1896 

160,202 

1897 

183,198 

1898 

225,426 

1899 

855,049 

1900 

1.862,(116 

1901 - 

1902 - 

1903 

otals 

36,545 

$4,371,366 

MANGANESE. 

Bibliographu :  State  IMineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletins  38,  67.  U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  427. 
In  the  statistical  reports  previous  to  1915,  manganese  ore  was 
included  in  the  '  industrial  materials '  list.  "We  have  since  made  a  trans- 
fer, and  now  place  it  under  'metals,'  because  by  far  the  greater  tonnage 
of  manganese  ore  is  utilized  in  the  preparatien  of  ferro-manganese  and 
employed  in  the  steel  industry  both  for  its  metal  content  and  to  slag  off 
certain  impurities  during  the  open-hearth  treatment.  Though  its  other 
uses  may  be  classed  as  'chemical,'  the  tonnage  thus  consumed  is  rela- 
tivelj'  smaller.  Its  chemical  uses  are  as  a  decolorizer  or  oxidizer  in 
glass  manufacture,  and  as  a  constituent  in  electric  dry  batteries.  The 
chemical  uses  require  a  much  higher  grade  of  ore  than  the  steel  indu.s- 
try.     For  steel  purposes,  an  iron  content  is  acceptable,  but  manganese 


38  MINERAI,    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIB'OENIA. 

should  exceed  40%.  Silica  should  be  uuder  8%,  though  higher  has 
been  taken  during  the  present  increased  demand.  Phosphorus  should  be 
under  0.2'0%.  For  electric  dry  cells,  the  iron  content  should  be  under 
1.5%  Fe^O,,  and  SiO.,  under  6%.  For  glass  making  the  manganese 
should  be  practically  free  of  iron.  The  writer  has  recently  been 
informed  that  on  account  of  the  high  prices  prevailing  for  manganese, 
it  is  being  superseded  in  the  glass  factories  by  selenium. 

The  following  schedule  of  prices  for  domestic  ore  was  arranged  by 
the  American  Iron  and  Steel  Institute,  and  approved  by  the  War 
Industries  Board,  effective  indefinitely  after  I\Iay  28,  1918 : 

"Prices  aie  per  unit  of  metallic  manganese  per  long  ton  (2240  lb.),  for  ore  mined 
and  shipped  from  all  points  west  of  South  Chicago,  Illinois.  The  prices  are  on  basis 
of  delivery,  f.o.b.  cars  South  Chicago.  When  shipped  to  other  destinations  than 
Chicago,  the  freight-rate  per  gross  ton  from  shipping  point  to  South  Chicago  is  to 
be  deducted  to  give  the  price  f.o.b.  shipping  point.  For  ore  shipped  to  points  east 
of  Chicago.  15c  per  unit  is  to  be  added  to  the  schedule  given  below.  Chemical  ores 
are  not   included.     Prices  are  based  on  ore  dried  at  212°  F. 


Mn,  '/c  Per  unit 

35  to   35.99 $0.S6 

36  to   3B.99 0.90 

37  to    37.99 0.94 

38  to   38.99 0.98 

39  to    39.99 1.00 

40  to    40.99 1.02 

41  to    41.99 1.04 

42  to    42.99 1.06 

43  to   43.99 1.08 

44  to   44.99 1.10 


Mn,  %  Per  unit 

45  to   45.99 n.l2 

46  to   46.99 1.14 

47  to   47.99 1.16 

48  to   48.99 1.18 

49  to   49.99 1.20 

50  to  50.99 1.22 

51  to   51.99 1.24 

53   to   52.99 1.26 

53  to  53.99 1.28 

54  and  over 1.30 


"These  pi-ices  are  net  to  producer,  buyers  to  pay  salary  or  commission  of  their 
agents.  In  payment.  SO'/r  of  estimated  value  of  the  ore  (less  moisture  and  freight 
fi'om  shipping  point)  to  be  paid  against  railroad  bill-of-lading,  with  attached 
analysis,   balance  on    receipt  of  ore   by  buyer. 

"The  above  prices  are  based  on  ore  carrying  not  over  8%  silica  and  0.25%  phos- 
phorus.    Bonuses  and   penalties  are  as  under: 

Bonuses  I'enalties 

SiOi    %  Per  ton  SiO..,    '/  Per  ton 

Kach  1%   between  8  and  5% $0.50  Each  1%  from  S  to  15V, $0.50 

Kach   1%    mider   5% 1.00  Each  1%  from  15  to  20% 0.75 

Each  1%    from  20  to  25% 1.00 

"For  each  0.01%  in  excess  of  0.25%  phosphorus  there  is  a  penalty  against  unit 
price  paid   for  manganese  of   k%   per  unit   figured   to   fractions." 

Though  the  imports  of  manganese  ore  from  the  Caucasus  district  in 
liussia  have  been  reduced  by  the  war  to  practically  nothing  (about  1% 
of  1914  figures),  the  United  States  is  receiving  important  shipments 
from  Brazil,  India,  and  Cuba:  so  that  the  total  imports  for  1916  were 
practically  double  those  of  either  1914  or  1915,  The  1916  figures  were 
576,321  l()ng  tons,  valued  at  .'(;8,666.179 ;  and  for  1917,  a  total  of  629,972 
long  tons,  valued  at  !lflO,2()2.929,  of  which  512,517  tons  were  from 
Brazil.  The  increased  demand  for  steel  products  has  increased  the 
necessity  for  ferro-mangau?se.  which  is  used  largely  in  the  open-hearth 
process  of  steel  making.  This  resulted  in  curtailment  of  ferro-man- 
ganese  exports  from  England,  and  the  resulting  shortage  in  the  United 
States  has  been  met  by  the  greater  imports  of  manganese  ore  from 
Brazil  especially,  and  an  increased  domestic  production  both  of  ore  and 
ferro-manganese.  These  conditions  have  caused  the  prices  for  the  ores 
to  range  from  $20-^50  per  ton,  f.o.b.  rail.  Cnliforiiia.  fur  \hr  steel 
grades,  to  above  .^75  for  ehemieal  grades. 


STATlSiTICS    OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


39 


;\lui-h  of  the  state's  1917  prmliirt  was  utilized  in  California  in  making 
f erro-nianyauese  by  electric  furnace ;  besides  .shipments  which  were  sent 
J-iast.  Some  'cheiuicar  oi'c  was  also  shipped.  For  many  years  the  priii- 
i-i[ial  producinir  section  lias  been  tlie  Livermore-Tesla  district,  in  Ala- 
hietla  and  San  Joaiiuiu  counties,  but  exceeded  in  1915  by  Mendocino 
anil  regaining-  the  lead  in  1916.  ilanganese  is  reported  to  exist  in 
many  localities  in  the  state ;  but  past  production,  particularly  since  the 
discontinuance  of  the  chlorination  process  in  the  metallurgy  of  gold, 
has  been  relatively  unimportant  until  the  present  activity. 

The  production  of  manganese  ore  iii  California  for  1917  amounted  to 
1.3,515  tons  of  all  grades,  having  a  total  value  of  !i!396,659  f.o.b.  rail- 
shipping  point.  This  is  an  increase  both  in  quantity  and  value  over  the 
1916  figures  which  nearly  equaled  tlie  entire  previous  tonnage,  1887- 
1915,  and  was  about  double  the  value  for  the  same  period. 

The  1917  output  was  distributed  by  counties  as  follows: 


County 


Value 


County 


.\lamoda    1,211 

fileun  !  369 

Iniliorial    1,907 

Lake 85 

Mendocino   1,.>41 

Plumas  i  1,540 

San  Bernardino '.  2.35 

San  Joaquin  _ 6,320 


$30,250    Santa  Clara 


9,721 
3i<.140 

1,900 
40.515 ,' 
39,680  : 

6,050  I 
157,500 


Sonoma 

Stanislaus   

Amador,  Butte,  River- 
side, San  Luis  Obis- 
po, Trinity*  


Totals 


760 
362 

775 


410 


$18,606 
12,689 
26,925 


14,683 


15,515       $396,659 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  mine  in  each. 

There  are  now  tw-o  electric  smelters  in  operation  in  California  mak- 
ing ferro-alloys:  the  plant  of  the  Noble  Electric  Steel  Company  at 
Heroult,  Shasta  County,  and  the  new  one  of  the  Pacific  Electro  jMetals 
Company  at  Bay  Point,  Contra  Costa  Count}'. 

The  production  of  manganese  ore  in  California  annually  .since  1887 
f(jllows : 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1887 -. 

1888 

1,000 

1,500 
53 
386 
705 
300 
270 
523 
880 
518 
504 
440 
295 
131 
425 
870 
1 

$9,000 
13,500 
901 
3,176 
3,830 
3,000 
4,050 
5,512 
8,200 
3,415 
4,080 
2,102 
3,165 
1,310 
4.405 
7,140 
■25 

1904 

1905           

60 

$900 

1889 

1906 

1 

1 
321 

3 
265 

2 
22 

150 

4.013 

13,404 

15,515 

30 

1890 

1907 

25 

1891 

1908       

5,785 

1892 

1909       

75 

1893 

1894 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 - 

1917 

Totals    

4.235 
40 

1895 

400 

1896                    .         .  . 

1897 

1898 - 

1899 

1900 

1901    

1,500 

49,098 

'     274,601 

396,659 

1902 

1903 

42,558 

$810,159 

40  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OK    CALIFORNIA. 

MOLYBDENUM. 

Biblioyraphij:  KL-port  XIV;  Bulletin  67.  U.  S.  Bur.  of  M.,  Bul- 
letin 111.     Proo.  Colo.  Sei.  Soc.  Vol.  XI. 

]\Iolyl)donuni,  as  the  metal,  is  used  as  an  alloy  constituent  in  the  steel 
industry,  and  in  certain  forms  of  electrical  apparatus.  Included  in  tlie 
hitter,  is  its  successful  substitution  for  platinum  and  platinum-iridium 
in  electric  contact-making  and  breaking  devices.  In  alloys  it  is  used 
similarly  to  and  in  conjunction  with  chromium,  cobalt,  iron,  manga- 
nese, nickel,  tungsten,  and  vanadium.  The  oxides  and  the  ammonium 
.salt  have  important  chemical  iises. 

The  two  principal  molybdenum  minerals  are:  the  sulphide,  molyb- 
denite; and  wulfenite,  lead  molybdate,  the  former  furnishing  prac- 
tically the  entire  commercial  output.  IMolybdenitc  is  found  in  or  asso- 
ciated Mitli  acidic  igneous  rocks,  such  as  the  granites  and  pegmatites. 
Up  to  ]91(),  at  least,  the  chief  conmiercial  sources  have  been  New  South 
Wales,  Qucen.sland  and  Norway. 

Deposits  of  di.s.scminated  molybdenite  are  known  in  several  localities 
iu  California,  and  in  at  least  two  places  it  occiirs  in  small  masses  asso- 
ciated with  copper  sulphides.  In  1916,  was  recorded  the  first  com- 
mercial shipments  of  molybdenum  ore  in  California. 

The  1917  output  amounted  to  243  tons  valued  at  $9,014,  and  included 
some  concentrates  assaying  up  to  58%  MoS„,  but  the  bulk  of  it  was 
1.5%  ore  which  was  shipped  to  Denver,  Colorado,  for  concentration. 
This  ]iroduction  came  mainly  from  Shasta  County,  with  smaller 
amounts  fi-om  Inyo,  ]\Iono  and  San  Diego  counties.  There  are  now  two 
coueenti'ating  plants  operating  in  California, — one  in  eai-li  of  the  first 
and  last  named  above  counties. 

The  California  pi'oduction  of  molybdenum  ore  Ijy  \ear.s  is  Nuiiimar- 
ized  in  the  fdllowing  tabulation: 


Year 

Tons 

Value 

I91K              -     . 

8  1 
243 

$9,945 

1917                   _  _ 

9,014 

• 

T(Jt;il.s         ...  . 

251 

$18,959 

NICKEL. 

Bibliographij:  Keport  XIV.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bulletin  640-D. 
Nickel  occurs  in  the  Friday  Copper  Mine  in  the  Julian  District,  San 
Diego  County.     The  ore  is  a  nickel-bearing  pyrrhotite,  with  some  asso- 
ciated ehalcopyrite.     Some  ore  has  been  mined  during  the  past  three 
years  in  the  course  of  development  woi'k,  but  not  treated  nor  disposed 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


41 


111',  a.s  tlicy  are  as  yet  unable  to  get  auy  smelter  to  handle  it  for  them. 
Nickel  ore  has  also  been  reported  from  Siskiyon  County,  west  of  Gazelle 
,-uid  from  San  Bernardino  County. 

OSMIUM   (sec  iimlei-  rhitiiuini). 

PALLADIUM    (SCO   inidcr   Philinunij. 

PLATINUM. 

Bibliography :  State  Mineralogist  Keports  IV,  VIII,  IX,  XII, 
XIII,  XIV.     Bulletins  38,  45,  67.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull.  285. 

h\  California  iilatinum  is  obtained  as  a  by-produet  from  placer  oper- 
ations for  gold.  The  major  portion  of  it  comes  from  the  dredges  oper- 
ating in  Butte,  Calaveras,  .Sacramento  and  Yuba  counties,  while  the 
hydraulic  and  surface  .sluicing  mines  of  Del  Norte,  Humboldt,  Siskiyou 
and  Trinity  and  the  dredges  of  Merced  and  Stanislaus  yield  a  smaller 
amount. 

The  production  for  1917  amounted  to  610  ounces  of  crude  platinum— 
group  metals,  valued  at  a  total  of  .'(s43.7in.  Of  this  amount  a  total  of 
552  oz.,  or  91%,  came  from  the  gold  dredges.  Crude  platinum  varies 
considerably  in  its  purity.  That  marketed  during  the  year  1914,'  is 
stated  to  have  averaged  51%  platinum,  3%  iridium,  and  30%  iridos- 
mine  or  osmiridium.  Some  platiniun  is  also  recovered  in  the  electro- 
lytic refining  of  blister  copper.  It  has  been  found'  that  blister  copper 
from  several  smelters  in  the  United  States  carries  from  0.342  oz.  to 
1.825  oz.  platinum  and  from  0.607  nz.  to  4.402  oz.  palladium  per  100 
tons  of  blister  copper  treated.  That  from  Iron  j\Iountain,  Shasta 
County,  California,  also  yields  some  platinum  and  palladium.  Iron  in 
greater  or  less  amount  is  always  alloyeil  naturally  with  native  platinum, 
anil  usually  some  iridium  and  osmium. 

For  1917,  the  distribution,  by  counties,  wa.s  as  follows : 


County 

Ounces  1 

Value 

County 

Ounces 

Value 

Butte 

119 

20 

10 

6 

157 
14 
15 
50 

$9,106 

1,433 

853 

351 

12,453 

1.100 

709 

3,283 

Tuba    .    

149 

70 

$8,860 

Calaveras - 

Amador,    El    Dorado. 
Merced,    Nevada, 
Placer.  San  .Joaquin, 
Stani.^laus*       

Del  Norte  

Humboldt 

Sacramento 

5,562 

Shasta    - 

Totals 

Trinity        

610 

$43,719 

Russia  previous  to  the  war,  was  producing  from  90%  to  95%  of  the 
world's  platinum;  but,  according  to  U.  S.  Consular  Reports,  the  yield 
for  1916  was  reduced  to  one-third  of  the  normal,  on  account  of  the 


■U.  S.  G.   S.,   Mill.   Res.,   191-1,  Pt.  I,  p.   336. 

'Trans.  Am.  Inst.  Min.   Eng.,  vol.  47.   pp.   217-21S,  1913. 


42  MINERAL  INDUSTEV  OP  CALIFORNIA. 

"scarcity  of  labor  in  the  case  of  hand  washings  by  tributers,  and  in  the 
case  of  mechanical  dredging  plants  by  the  difficulty  in  obtaining  spare 
parts  for  dredges" — both,  a  reflection  of  war  conditions.  Since  then 
it  has  now  practically  ceased  entirely. 

The  price  of  the  metal  has  consequently  risen  to  over  ,i>100  per  troy 
fine  ounce.  During  1916,  it  varied  from  190  in  January,  to  $55  in 
August,  $105  December  1st,  and  closing  the  year  at  $82.  The  1917 
price  was  from  $100  to  $105.  In  1916,  the  miners  of  California 
received  from  $43  to  $76  per  ounce  for  their  crude  platinum,  and  an 
average  of  $45.50,  as  again.st  $29  to  $38  per  ounce  during  1915.  In 
1917,  they  received  an  average  of  $72  per  ounce.  The  U.  S.  Govern- 
ment is  commandeering  all  new  platinum  produced  at  a  fixed  price  of 
$105  per  fine  ounce.  The  refiners  are  licensed  and  must  turn  over  all 
stocks  to  the  Government.  The  miners  may  sell  to  the  refiners,  or  to 
the  Government  (War  Industries  Board,  Platinum  Section)  direct. 

Next  in  importance  to  Eussia  as  a  producer  of  platinum  is  Colombia. 
California  is  the  leading  producer  in  the  United  States.  There  have 
been  occasional  reports  of  platinum  in  California  being  found  in  vein 
materials,  but  as  yet  no  authentic  case  has  come  to  the  notice  of  the 
laboratoi'y  of  the  State  ]\Iining  Bureau.  In  this  connection,  however, 
the  recent  report''  of  an  analysis  of  chroinite  from  Del  Norte  County 
showing  0.04  oz.  platinum  per  ton  is  of  more  than  passing  interest,  and 
apparently  reliable.  Platinum  and  chromite  are  alike  in  their  associa- 
tion with  serpentine  derived  from  basic  igneous  rocks  such  as  periodo- 
tite,  pyroxenite  and  dunite.  The  two  have  been  found  intergrown  in 
dunite  on  the  Tulameen  River  in  British  Columbia. 

Besides  its  Mcll-known  uses  in  .jewelry,  dentistry  and  for  chemical- 
ware,  an  important  industrial  development  of  recent  years,  employs 
platinum  as  a  catalyzer  in  the  'contact  process'  of  manufacturing  con- 
centrated sulplniric  acid.  It  is  also  necessary  for  certain  delicate  parts 
of  the  ignition  systems  in  automobiles,  motor  boats,  and  aeroplanes. 

Because  of  the  effect  of  the  limited  supply  and  the  high  prices  of 
jdatiinim  on  the  jiresent  industrial  situation,  the  .iewelers'  and  dentists' 
associations  have  voluntarily  agreed  to  curtail  consumption  of  this 
metal  so  far  as  possible.  Experiments  are  being  made  to  find  alloys 
which  can  replace  platinum  for  dishes  and  erucililes  in  analytical  work, 
but  so  far  with  only  slight  success. 


»Min.   &  Sci.  Press,  June  30,   1917,  p.   929. 


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Csliftrnia  Srsre  Mining  Bureau.  Accompanyinf  Bulletin  N!  73 

PRODUCTION  AND  PRICE  OF  QUICKSILVER  IN   CALIFORNIA,   1850-1917.     Reproduced  from  Bulletin  No.  78. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  43 

'i'lic  annual  produc-lion  and  value  since  1887,  have  beeu  as  follows: 


Value 


OuDcea        Value 


$400  :  1904  123  $1,849 

2.000  1905  -. i  200  ,  3,320 

2.000  1906 I  91  '  1,647 

2,500  1907 30O  6,255 

500  1908 706  13.414 

440  1909 416  10,400 

517  1910  .  - 337  :  8,386 

600  1911 511  '.  14,873 

900  1912 603  !  19,731 

944  1913  368  17,738 

900  1914  463  14,816 

1.800  1915 667  :  21,149 

1,800  1916  '  886  !  42,642 

2,500  1917  -- '  610  43,719 

3  200  I 1 

'468            Totals    '  10,151  '  $242,460 

1,052                                                 i  ■  I 


QUICKSILVER. 
Bihliocjrapliij:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  X,  XII,  XIII,  XIV, 
XV.     Bulletins  27,  78.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  XIII. 
(^uieksilver  was  produced  in  13  counties  in  1917,  to  the  amount  of 
24,382  flasks,  valued  at  $2,396,466,  which  is  an  increase  both  in  number 
of  flasks  and  value  over  the  year  1916.     The  European  Avar  has  caused 
a  considerable  rise  in  the  price  of  quicksilver,  due  to  the  prohibition  of 
exports  from  Austria  and  Italy,  and  the  retention  of  the  Spanish  out- 
l)ut  in  Eniilaud.  to  say  nothing-  of  its  increased  use  in  munitions  manu- 
facture.    Immediate  steps  were  taken  by  many  to  reopen  old  quicksilver 
properties  which  had  l)een  idle  for  many  year.s. 

Prices. 

The  following  table  of  monthly  San  Francisco  quotations  per  flask  of 
7.")  pounds,  will  indicate  the  decided  change  in  the  status  of  quicksilver 
during  the  year  1917,  as  compared  with  the  pre-war  price  of  abont  $37 
]ier  flask.  As  San  Francisco  is  the  primary  domestic  market  for  quick- 
silver, the  average  yearly  quotations  on  this  market  have  previously 
been  used  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  (and  the  U.  S.  Geological  Sur- 
vey, also)  in  calculating  the  value  of  the  state's  output  of  this  metal. 
The  1914  figure  was  $49.0,")  per  flask.  However,  because  since  the  war 
lliei-e  has  been  cdnsidcrable  speculation  in  quicksilver  by  parties  other 
Mi.-m  Ibe  actual  |)rodu('ers.  and  the  price  changes  were  often  rapid,  so 
ili.-it  ((nolatimis  did  not  always  mean  sales,  we  have -since  1914  taken  for 
,lic  avrra^e  vahir  llir  a\crage  actual  sales  ;is  iM'purled  In  us  by  the  [H'o- 


dui 


This  gives  us  an  average  value  of  $S1..VJ  per  llask  for  the  year 


nil."),    instead   of  the   $8.'i.8()   average   i>f  (piotations ;   for   1916,   $93..^)(l 
iistr.iil  uf  $125.89:  and  for  1917.  .$98.29  instead  of  $106.33. 


42 

"sea 
case 
part 
it  hi 
Tl 
line 
Aug 
pric 
rece 
avei 

lor 

men 

$10! 

stoc 

the 

N 

Call 

bee) 

mat 

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the 

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»i 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  43 

The  aiuiiuil  iuMdiielion  and  value  since  1887,  have  Ijeeu  as  follows: 


Year 

Ounces 

Value                                  Year 

Ounces 

Value 

1887 — 

100 

$400     1904  

123 

$1,849 

1888 

500 

2,000 

1905 — 

200 

3,320 

1889 

500 

2,000 

1906  -— 

91 

1,647 

1890 

600 

2,500 

1907  .- — - - 

300 

6,255 

1891 

100 

500 

1908 

706 

13,414 

1892 

80 

440 

1909 

416 

10,400 

1893 

75 
100 
150 

517 
600 
900 

1910           

337 
511 
603 

8,386 

1894       .         .  .      .—    .. 

1911 

14,873 

1895  _. 

1912    

19,731 

1896 

162 

944 

1913 

368 

17,738 

1897 

150 

900 

1914 - 

463 

14,816 

1898 

300 

1.800 

1915 

667 

21,149 

1899 

300 

1,800 

1916 

886 

42,642 

1900 

400 
250 

2,500 
3,200 

1917 

610 

43,719 

190' 

39 

468 

Totals         -  -- 

10,151 

$242,460 

1903 

70 

1,052 

QUICKSILVER. 
Bibliographij:  State  Mineralogist  Report.s  IV,  X,  XII.  XIII,  XIV, 
XV.     Biillptin-s  27,  78.     IT.  S.  G.  S.,  Monograph  XIII. 
(Quicksilver  was  produced  in  13  counties  in  1917,  to  the  amount  of 
24,382  flasks,  valued  at  $2,396,466,  which  is  an  increase  both  in  number 
of  flasks  and  value  over  the  year  1916.     The  European  war  has  caused 
a  consiilerable  rise  in  the  price  of  quicksilver,  due  to  the  prohibition  of 
exports  from  Austria  and  Italy,  and  the  retention  of  the  Spanish  out- 
jMit  in  Enulaiid,  to  say  nothini;'  of  its  increased  use  in  munitions  mann- 
facturc.     Immediate  steps  were  taken  by  many  to  reopen  old  quicksilver 
properties  which  had  been  idle  for  many  years. 

Prices. 

The  folldwins'  table  of  monthly  San  Francisco  quotations  per  flask  of 
7.")  i)onnds.  will  indicate  the  decided  chanse  in  the  status  of  quicksilver 
duriiii;-  the  year  1917.  as  compared  with  the  pre-war  price  of  about  $37 
]icr  flask.  As  San  Francisco  is  the  primary  domestic  market  for  quick- 
silvi'r,  the  averag'e  yearly  quotations  on  this  market  have  previou.sly 
been  used  by  the  State  Mining  Bureau  (and  the  U.  S.  Geological  Sur- 
vey, also)  in  calculating  the  value  of  the  state's  output  of  this  metal. 
Th(>  1914  figure  was  $49.05  per  flask.  However,  because  since  the  war 
thiTc  lias  liecn  cousidiM'able  speculation  in  (piicksilver  by  parties  other 
Mian  tlu>  actual  jiroducers.  and  the  price  changes  were  often  rapid,  so 
iliat  qudlations  did  not  ;dways  mean  sales,  we  have  since  1914  tak(Mi  for- 
.III'  a\'ci-a^c  \aliii'  llic  axiTagc  ai'Inal  sales  as  repcirled  Id  us  liy  the  pro- 
(hu'ei's.  'i'liis  gives  us  an  average  value  of  $81. .')2  pei'  tlask  for  the  year 
III]."),  instead  oT  the  $S.").S()  average  nf  (juotations;  for  1916,  .$93.r)() 
iisle.id  ,,f  $125.8!l;  and  fur  li)17.  $9S.29  in.stead  of  $106.33. 


44 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 
San  Trancisco  Quotations  of  Quicksilver,  1917. 


Month 


Averase 
price 


January  - 
February 

March 

April 

May  

June    

July 

August  -— 
September 
October  .. 
November 
December 


$81  00 
126  25 

113  75 

114  50 
104  00 

85  50 
102  00 

115  00 
112  00 
102  00 
102  50 
117  42 


'riie  U.  S.  (xoveruiiiput  is  now  takino;  40%  nf  the  American  output  of 
quicksilver  at  a  fixed  price  of  $105  per  flask.  The  balance  can  be  sold 
iu  the  open  market  at  whatever  price  may  there  be  put  upon  it.  Quo- 
tations for  the  first  lialf  of  I'll 8  have  ranged  between  $110  and  $120 
per  flask.  The  charts  printed  herewith  arc  reproduced  from  Bulletin 
78  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  on  the  Quicksilver  Resources  of  Califor- 
nia, just  off  the  pre.s.s.  One  shows  the  production  by  flasks  and  value, 
annuallj'  since  1850,  and  the  other,  the  variations  in  the  San  Francisco 
([uotations  1914-Mareh,  1918. 

Recent  consular  reports'"  indicate  that  at  the  famous  mines  at  Alma- 
den,  Spain,  the  expense  of  operation  has  increased  somewhat.  These 
mine.s  are  owned  by  flie  government  and  operated  by  contractors  using 
convict  labor.  The  cost  of  production  of  quicksilver  is  stated  to  have 
increased  from  $8.29  a  flask  in  1900  to  $15.22  in  1015.  Their  ore  is 
high-grade,  the  material  sent  to  the  furnaces  averaging  9%-ll%  mer- 
cury. 

For  two  or  three  years  previous  to  the  outbreak  of  the  European  war, 
our  normal  peace-times  consumption  of  quicksilver  in  the  United  States 
was  approximately  25,000  flasks  annually ;  and  our  dom&stic  production 
liad  fallen  below  20,000  flasks  per  year.  Of  this  25,000-fla.sk  peace-time 
eiinsumption,  nearly  50%  went  into  the  manufacture  of  fulminate  for 
explosive  caps  for  mining,  quarrj-ing,  and  sporting  arms  ammunition  as 
well  as  military  ammunition.  Our  domestic  production  being  inade- 
(|uate,  partly  because  of  the  low  price  and  the  lower  average  tenor  of 
the  ores  mined,  necessitated  the  importation  of  up  to  5,000  flaslcs  annu- 
ally. The  enormous  inerea.se  in  munitions  manufacture  due  to  the  war 
has,  of  course,  rai.sed  our  requirements  correspondingly. 

The  import  duty  of  10%.  ad  valorum  is  not  sufftcient  to  protect  our 
American  miners  against  tlie  competition  of  tlu^  convict-operated  mines 


'"U.  S.  Commerce  Reports.   No.  2HS,  Dec.  20,  1916,  p.   ]"7;i;  Annual  Series,  No.   ISB. 
June  22,   1917,   p.   33. 


45 

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''"'"'""'ist***'" ""  •"'^""" ■'" ""''*' ■••--^j*^'"  •■^'  *<-*■  ■-'  w «' -^ ->/ ^^^>^-^ ■« "^""J^.  'T ''17. T/" '^ ^'^''''^ Tl..T.."'^"J',^l, 

Monthly    Avbragb    Quicksilver    Quotations    at    San    Francisco,    California, 
January,    1914-February,    1918,    Inclusive. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


45 


(if  Spain  where  quicksilver  can  be  produced  for  as  low  as  -iiS-ifJlS  per 
Hask,  as  noted  above.  The  duty  should  be  at  least  $25  per  flask  to  give 
us  proper  protection.  The  present  improvement  in  the  price  has  in- 
creased the  number  of  operating  properties  in  California.  Lower  grade 
ores  are  being  worked ;  and  new  methods  of  ore  dressing  and  reduction 
are  being  tried. 

From  a  consideration  of  the  above  facts  and  other  circumstances  of 
tlie  situation,  it  would  appear  that  the  present  economic  level  for  the 
price  of  quicksilver  should  be  above  $100  per  flask.  This  condition 
seems  likelv  to  continue  at  least  as  long  as  the  war  last.s. 


'=». ' 


A    shipment  of  300   flasks  of  quicksilver  from   the    New 
Idria   Mine,    San   Benito   County. 

Uses. 

The  important  uses  of  quicksilver  are  the  recovery  of  gold  and  silver 
bj'  amalgamation,  and  in  the  manufacture  of  fulminate  for  explosive 
caps,  of  drugs,  of  electric  appliances,  and  of  scientific  apparatus.  By 
far  the  greatest  consumption  is  in  the  manufacture  of  fulminate  and 
drugs. 

The  newest  use  for  quicksilver  is  the  introduction  of  a  small  amount 
into  the  cylinders  of  steam  turbines  to  improve  the  vapor  pressure  and 
thus  increase  efficiency.  This  mei'cuiy  is  recoverable  and  can  be  re-used, 
so  that  there  is  only  a  small  proportional  loss. 


44 


Januar 
Febiua 
March  . 
April  -. 
May  — . 
June  .. 
July  .,. 
August 
Septeml 
October 
Novemb 
Dpcpmb( 


The 
quicksi 
in  the  < 
tations 
per  fla.^ 
78  of  tl: 
nia,  jus 
anmiall 
(|tiotati( 

Reeer 
den,  Sp 
mines  a 
convict 
increase 
high-gra 
cury. 

For  t\ 
our  nori 
was  app 
liad  fall( 
consump 
explosive 
■well  as  : 
quate,  p: 
the  ores 
ally.  Tl 
has,  of  e 

The  in 
Americai 


■"U.  s.  c 
June  22,  II 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUM;   PRODUCTION. 


45 


III'  Spain  Mliore  quicksilver  can  be  produced  for  as  low  as  ijiS-sJ^lS  per 
ilask,  as  noted  above.  Tlie  dulj-  should  be  at  least  $25  per  flask  to  give 
us  proper  protection.  The  present  improvement  in  the  price  has  in- 
erea.sed  the  number  of  operating  properties  in  California.  Lower  grade 
ores  are  being  worked ;  and  new  methods  of  ore  dressing  and  reduction 
are  being  tried. 

Prom  a  consideration  of  the  above  facts  and  other  circumstances  of 
the  situation,  it  would  appear  that  the  present  economic  level  for  the 
price  of  quicksilver  should  be  above  $100  per  flask.  This  condition 
seems  likelv  to  continue  at  least  as  long  as  tlie  war  lasts. 


A   shipment  of   300  flasks  of  quicksilver   from  the    New 
Idria   Mine,    San   Benito   County. 

Uses. 

The  important  uses  of  quicksilver  are  the  recovery  of  gold  and  silver 
by  amalgamation,  and  in  the  manufacture  of  fulminate  for  explosive 
cups,  of  drugs,  of  electric  appliances,  and  of  scientific  apparatus.  By 
far  the  greatest  consumption  is  in  the  manufacture  of  fulminate  and 
drugs. 

The  newest  use  for  quicksilver  is  the  introduction  of  a  small  amount 
into  the  cylinders  of  steam  turbines  to  improve  the  vapor  pressure  and 
thus  increase  efficiency.  This  mercury'  is  recoverable  and  can  be  re-used, 
so  that  there  is  only  a  small  proportional  loss. 


ir. 


MINI'IliAl,    IMirSTin'    III-'    CAMI'dRNIA. 


(Quicksilver  is  ;iii  ;il)-;iilii1('ly  rssciiliiil  cli'iiii'iil  rj-iiiii  a  iiiiiilai'v  sljiliil- 
|i()iiil.  ;is  Ihci'c  liiis  iKit  yrt  Immmi  ]ii'(i(liii-('(l  .■iii  ciilircly  siilisfjiclory  coiii- 
iiinviiil  siiiislitutc  Jfoi-  it  ill  the  lUiinufacliii'c'  <it'  I'liliiiiiiatiu"'  cniw  for 
exi)losives.  However,  in  order  to  reduce  coiisuiiiiUion  of  the  fulminate, 
some  potassium  chlorate,  picric  acid,  trinitro-toiuol,  or  tetranitro- 
inellialiimine  is  stated  at  pi'csent  as  being  mixed  with  it.  Tlie  Ordnance 
Department  of  the  l\  S,  Army,  luiwcver.  will  accept  no  substitutes. 

Concentration    of   Quicksilver   Ores. 

I<'(ir  the  above  reason,  and  the  fact  Ihat'C'alifornia  has  been,  and  still 
is.  producing  from  70%  to  SO'/ii  of  the  quicksilver  yield  of  the  United 
States,  an  inA'cstigation  of  the  possibilities  of  concentratiou  for  quick- 
silver ores,  was  undertaken  l)y  the  State  Mining  Bureau.  In  the 
Bureau's  investigation  a  wide  variety  of  ores  was  tested  by  water  con- 
centration, flotation  with  oils,  and  a  wet  method  by  solution  with  an 
alkaline  sulpiiide.  Pull  details  of  this  work,  as  well  as  furnace  prac- 
tices aiul  descriptions  of  the  Califoi'iiia  mines  are  given  in  IJiiIletin  7S, 
referred  to  on  a  ]irevious  page. 

Production. 

'riicingli  some  domestic  yield  oi'  this  metal  is  now  obtained  from  Texa.s, 
Nevada,  Arizona,  and  Oregon,  the  bulk  of  the  output  still  comes  from 
California. 

The  distribution  of  the  1917  product,  by  counties  was: 


County 


Amount, 
flasks 


Vslue 


Korn  

Lake ._. 

Napa   

San  Bonito 

San  Luis  Obispo 

Santa  Clara 

Solano    

Sonoma   

Fresno,  Monterey,  Santa  Barbara,  Trinity,  Tolo*. 

Totnls . 


300 
1,067 

834 

11,150 

1,565 

5,921 

554 
2,592 

399 


24,382 


$27,250 
107,071 

78,320 

1,057,770 

151,034 

639,594 

52,765 
244,810 

37.852 


$2,396,466 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  mine  in  each. 

Total   Quicksilver   Production    of   California. 

Total  amount  and  value  of  the  quicksilver  production  of  California, 
as  given  in  available  records,  is  shown  in  the  following  tabulation. 
Though  the  New  Almaden  mine  in  Santa  Clara  County  was  first 
W'orked  in  1824.  and  has  been  in  practically  continuous  operation  since 
1846  (though  the  yield  was  small  the  first  two  years),  there  are  no 
available  data  on  the  output  earlier  than  1850.  Previous  to  June,  1904, 
a  'flask'  of  quicksilver  contained  76|  pounds,  but  since  that  date  75 
pounds.     In  compiling  this  table  the  following  sources  of  information 


STATISTICS   ()!■'    ANNUAF;    l'UO[>l '(Vl'lONr. 


47 


wpi-c  used:  For  lS,i()-lSS8,  lalilc  by  J.  H.  Kandi)!,  in  Reporl  of  State 
:\liMoraloiji.st.  IV.  \).  :iH(i ;  ]M8M-lS;):i  1'.  S.  Ocologioal  Sm-vey  reports; 
18!t4  to  (late,  statistical  Imlletiiis  of  the  State  ]\Iining  Bureau;  also 
State  ;\Iiniu§r  Bureau,  Bulletin  27,  "Quicksilver  Resources  of  Cali- 
fornia," 1908,  p.  10: 


1850  7,723 

1851  27,779 

1852  20,000 

1853 22,284 

1854  30,004 

1855 33,000 

1856 30,000 

1857 28,204 

1858 31,000 

1859  13,000 

1860 10,000 

1861  35,000 

1862  42,000 

1863 40,531 

1864  47,489 

1865  53,000 

1866 46,550 

1867  47,000 

1868  47,728 

1869  33,811 

1870 30,077 

1871  31,686 

1872 31,621 

1873  27,642 

1874  27,756 

1875  50,250 

1876  75,074 

1877 79,396 

1878  63,880 

1879  73,684 

1880  59,926 

1881  60,851 

1882  52,732 

1883  46,725 

1884 31,913 


$768,052 
1,859,248 
1,166,600 
1,235,648 
1,663,722 
1,767,150 
1,549,500 
1,374,381 
1,482,730 
820,690 
535,500 
1,471,750 
1,526,700 
1,705,544 
2,179,745 
2.432,700 
2,473,202 
2,157,300 
2,190,715 
1,551,925 
1,725,818 
1,999,387 
2,084,773 
2,220,482 
2,919,376 
4,228,538 
3,303,256 
2,961,471 
2,101,652 
2,194,674 
1,857,706 
1,815,185 
1,488,624 
1,343,344 
973,347 


$99  45 
66  93 
58  33 
55  45 
55  45 
53  55 
51  65 
48  73 
47  83 
63  13 
53  55 
42  05 

36  35 
42  08 
45  90 
45  90 
53  13 
45  90 
45  90 
45  90 
57  38 
63  10 
65  93 
80  33 

105  18 
84  15 
44  00 

37  30 
32  90 
29  85 
31  00 

29  83 
28  23 
28  75 

30  50 


1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 


32,073 
29,981 
33,760 
33,250 
26,464 
22,926 
22,904 
27,993 
30,164 
30,416 
36,104 
30,765 
26,691 
31,092 
29,454 
26,317 
26,720 
29,552 
32,094 
*28,876 
24,655 
19,516 
17,379 
18,039 
16,217 
17,665 
19,109 
20,600 
15,661 
11,373 
14,199 
21,427 
24,382 


$986,245 

1,064,326 

1,430,749 

1.413,125 

1,190,880 

1,203,615 

1,036,406 

1,139,595 

1,108,527 

934,000 

1,337,131 

1,075,449 

993,445 

1,188,626 

1,405,045 

1,182,786 

1,285,014 

1,276,524 

1,335,954 

1,086,323 

886,081 

712,334 

663,178 

763,520 

773,788 

799,002 

879,205 

866,024 

630,042 

557,846 

1,157,449 

2,003,425 

2,396,466 


$30  75 

35  50 
42  38 

42  50 
45  00 
52  50 
45  25 
40  71 

36  75 
30  70 

37  04 

34  96 

37  28 

38  23 

47  70 

44  94 

48  46 

43  20 
42  25 

37  62 

35  94 

36  50 

38  16 
42  33 
47  71 

45  23 

46  01 
42  04 
40  23 

49  05 
81  52 
93  50 
98  29 


Totals    -I  2,137,728  $101,992,560 


•Flasks  ot  76  lbs.  eince  June,  1904;  of  76i  lbs.  previously. 

SILVER. 

nibliof/niphir.  State  :\rineralooist  Reports  IV,  VIIT,  XTI.  XTTT, 
XIV,  XV.  Bulletin  fi7. 
Silver  in  California  is  produced  largely  a.s  a  by-product  from  its 
association  with  copper,  lead,  zinc  and  gold  ores.  As  explained  under 
the  heading  of  Gold,  the  following  figures  are  those  of  the  U.  S.  Geologi- 
cal Survey.  The  average  price  of  .silver  during  1917  was  82.4(f  per 
ounce  at  New  York  as  compared  with  54.8^  in  1914 ;  50.7^  in  1915 ;  and 


48 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


65.8^  in  1916.     The  Midiitlily  viirialions  in  jn'iee  are  sliown  on  the  eliart 
i',"prodneed  herewilli. 


/9/^.                          1915 

1916                           191 7 

~'~ 

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^5!  1 '  M  1  1  M  M  M  1 1 1  1 1 1 — Mill 

'1  1  1  II  1  1  1  1 — 1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  1  L5 

M 


onth\y   Average   P<-\ce  o-f  SWvev  for  foui-  Vears 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  49 

"The  deep  mine  production  of  silver  in  California  in  1!H7  was  1,748,174  ounces, 
valued  at  $1,140,495.  a  decrease  in  quantity  of  786,569  ounces  and  in  value  $227,366. 
The  larger  portion  of  the  output.  1,034,833  ounces,  valued  at  $852,702.  was  derived 
from  crude  smelting  ores.  Siliceous  ores,  milled  and  smelted,  yielded  139,492 
ounces,  valued  at  $114,941.  The  largest  output  of  silver  in  1917  came  from  Inyo 
County  (not  from  Shasta  as  has  been  usual  for  years),  which  produced  from  cop- 
per ores  661  ounces,  valued  at  $545;  from  siliceous  ore.  550  ounces,  valued  at  $453; 
from  lead  ores,  164,115  ounces,  valued  at  $135,231;  from  silver-lead  ores.  483,431 
ounces,  valued  at  $398,347;  and  from  zinc  ores,  28  ounces,  valued  at  $23.  This  makes 
a  total  yield  of  silver  from  Inyo  County,  of  648.785  ounces,  valued  at  $534,599. 
Shasta  County  followed  Invo  in  yield  of  silver,  the  output  being  631.921  fine  ounces, 
valued  at  $520,703  as  compared  with  1916  of  1,063,464  ounces  in  quantity  and  $595,074 
in  value.  The  total  silver  derived  from  deep  mines  of  all  classes  and  from  placer 
mines  in  California  in  1917  was  1.775,431  ounces,  valued  at  $1,462,955.  Tlie  silver 
obtained  from  refining  placer  gold  mined  in  the  State  in  1917  was  27,257  ounces, 
valued  at  $22,400.  The  largest  producer  of  placer  silver  was  Yuba  County — 7,999 
ounces,    valued  at   $6,591. 

"Silver,  lead,  and  silver-lead  mines  are  more  numerous  and  productive  since  the 
advance  in  the  price  of  the  metal.  Silver  derived  from  purely  silver  ores  in  1917 
amounted  to  8,378  fine  ounces,  valued  at  $6,903.  From  63,999  tons  of  silver-lead  ores 
there  was  derived  552,641  fine  ounces  of  silver,  valued  at  $455,376,  as  well  as  $96,403 
in  gold;  from  28,080  tons  of  lead  ore  was  obtained  165,155  ounces  of  silver,  valued 
at  $136,088;  and  from  135  tons  of  zinc  ore,  the  silver  yield  was  28  ounces,  valued  at 

$23. 

*  *  • 

"From  the  siliceous  ore  and  old  tailings  treated  in  California  in  1917  the  recovery 
of  silver  by  amalgamation  was  83,141  ounces,  valued  at  $68,508;  by  cyanidation 
29  937  ounoes,  valued  at  $24,668;  by  chlorination  283  ounces,  valued  at  $233;  and 
from  concentrates  sent  to  smelters  110,705  ounces,  valued  at  $91,221.  From  smelt- 
ing ores  silver  was  recovered  amounting  to  1.524,108  fine  ounces,  and  valued  at 
$1,255,865.  These  figures  do  not  include  the  comparatively  small  quantity  of  silver 
recovered   from   the  gold   in   placer  mining  operations." 

The  distribution  of  the  1917  silver  yield,  by  counties,  was  as  follows: 


Amador $21,358 

Butte   ,  2,991 

Calaveras  87,984 

Del  Norte   8 

El  Dorado 85 

Fresno 289 

Humboldt   95 

Imperial  5 

Inyo    534,599 

Kern    7,813 

Madera   489 

Mariposa  3,221 

Mono 5,662 

Nevada   _- ^ 52,335 

Placer   _- !  13,885 

Plumas    - !  74,461 

Sacramento-  „ 4,487 

San  Bernardino -  88,930 

Shasta  520,703 

Sierra  - 1,629 

Siskiyou  - —  16,883 

Trinity   -—  10.021 

Tuolumne    — I  7,808 

Yuba  —I  6,591 

Mercort,  Riverside,  San  Diego  and  Stanislaus* I  623 


Total   .... I         $1,462,955 


♦Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  producer  in  each. 


no 


MTNERAI,    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


'J'hc  value  of  the  .silver  ])ro(liiec'd  in  California  eaeli  year  siiic(!  18S7, 
i.s  as  follow.s: 


Year 

Value 

[                                Year 

Value 

1887  

1888  

$1,632,003 
1,700,000 
754,793 
1,060,613 
953,157 
463,602 
537,157 
297,332 
599,789 
422,463 
452,789 
414,055 
504,012 

1901   

1905  

1906 

1907  

?873,525 
678,494 
817,830 
751,646 

1889 

1890  

1891   

1892 ..„ 

1893  

1908  

1909  

1910  

1911 

873,057 

1,091,092 

993,646 

673  336 

1894 

1895  

1912  

799,584 

1896 

1913  

832,553 

1897 

1914 

813  938 

1898  

1915 

851 129 

1899  

1916  

1,687,345 

1900  

1,510,344 

1,229,356 

616.412 

517,444 

1917   . 

1.462,955 

1901 

Total 

1902 

$26,865,451 

1903  

TIN. 

Bibliography:  Report  XV.     Bulletin  67. 

Tin  is  not  at  present  produeed  in  California;  but  during  1891-1892, 
there  was  .some  output  from  a  .small  deposit  near  Corona,  in  Kiverside 
County,  as  tabulated  below.  Small  quantities  of  stream  tin  bave  been 
found  in  some  of  the  jjlacer  workings  in  northern  California,  l)ut  never 
in  paying-  amounts. 

lu  1916  two  new  oeeurrences  were  noted  in  northern  San  Diego 
County.  Crystals  of  cassiterite  were  found  there,  a.ssoeiated  with  blue 
tourmaline  crystals,  amblygouite  and  beryl.  No  commercial  quantity 
has  been  developed,  only  small  pockets  having  been  taken  out,  as  yet ; 
but  the  prospect  is  an  interesting  one. 

The  principal  source  of  the  world's  supply  of  tin  is  the  Straits  Settle- 
ments on  the  Malay  Peninsula,  followed  in  second  rank  by  Bolivia. 
Siam,  Burma  and  Cornwall  are  also  important  sources.  A  measureable 
amount  of  the  metal  is  also  recovered  by  de-tinning  scrap  and  old  cans. 

Total  output  of  tin  in  California : 


Year 

Founds 

Value 

1891  

125.289 
126,000 

$27,564 

1892 

32,400 

Totals 

251,289 

$59,964 

TUNGSTEN. 

Bibliography  -.  Report  on  San  Bernardino  County,  1917 ;  Report 

XV;  Bulletins  38,  67.     U.  S.  G.  S.  Bull.  652.     Proc.  Colo.  Sei. 

Soc,  Vol.  XI. 

The  metal,  tungsten,  is  used  mainly  in  the  steel  industry  and  in  the 

manufacture  of  electrical  appliances,  including  the  well-known  tuug- 


STATISTICS    OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  51 

sten  filament  lamps.  Because  of  its  resistance  to  corrosion  by  acids,  it 
is  valuable  in  making  certain  forms  of  chemical  apparatus.  Its  employ- 
ment in  tool  .steel  alloys,  permits  the  operation  of  cutting  tools,  such 
as  in  lathe  work,  at  a  speed  and  temperature  at  which  carbon  steel 
would  lose  its  temper — hence  the  name  'high-speed'  steels  for  these 
tungsten  alloy.s.  As  made  in  the  United  States,  tungsten  forms  13% 
1o  20%  of  such  steels.  Some  chromium,  nickel,  cobalt,  or  vanadium  are 
sometimes  also  included. 

Tungsten  is  introduced  into  the  molten  steel  charge,  either  as  the 
powdered  metal  or  as  ferro-tung-sten  (containing  507o-85%  tung.sten). 
The  specific  gravity  of  the  pure  metal,  19.3-21.4,  is  exceeded  only  by 
platinum,  21.5;  iridium,  22.4;  and  osmium,  22.5.  Its  melting  point  is 
3,267°  C.  (5,913°  F.),  being  higher  than  any  other  known  metal. 
Though  millions  of  tung.sten  filament  lamps  are  now  made,  the  wires 
are  .so  fine  that  the  metal  they  contain  represents  but  a  few  tons  of  tung- 
sten concentrates  annually. 

Ttingsten  ore  is  produced  in  California  principally  in  the  Atolia- 
Randsburg  district  in  San  Bernardino  and  Kern  counties,  with  small 
amounts  coming  from  Nevada  County  and  from  the  district  near  Goffs, 
in  ea.stern  San  Bernardino.  Most  of  the  California  tungsten  ore  is 
scheelite  (calcium  tungstate),  though  wolframite  (iron-manganese  tung- 
state)  and  hiibnerite  (manganese  tungstate)  also  occur.  The  deposits 
at  Atolia  are  the  largest  and  most  productive  scheelite  deposits  known,' ^ 
and  the  output  has  in  some  years  equalled  or  exceeded  that  of  ferberite 
(iron  tung.state)  from  Boulder  County,  Colorado.  It  is  interesting  in 
this  connection  to  note  that,  in  practically  all  other  tungsten  producing 
districts  of  the  world,  wolframite  is  the  important  constituent.  Burma, 
the  largest  producer,  reports  a  yield  of  approximately  3,300  tons'^  ol 
wolframite  concentrates  for  1917,  most  of  which  was  obtained  from 
placer-s,  in  part  associated  with  eassiterite   (tin  oxide). 

The  value  of  the  ore  is  based  uj^on  the  content  of  tungstic  trioxide 
(WO3),  and  quotations  arc  commonly  made  per  unit  (each  1%)  of 
WO3  present. 

In  California  in  1917  there  were  marketed  2,466  tons  of  high-grade 
ore  and  concentrates,  valued  at  $3,079,013,  which  is  an  increase  of  196 
tons  in  quantity,  but  a  decrease  of  33J%  in  value,  as  compared  with  the 
1916  output.  The  decreased  value  is  due  to  the  lower  market  prices  pre- 
vailing during  1917,  the  average  being  about  $20  per  unit,  as  against  an 
£iverage  of  nearly  $40  in  1916.  The  tonnages  here  shown  are  re-calcu- 
lated to  a  basis  of  607o  WO,,  the  materials  reported  varying  from  ore 
assajdng  2%  to  concentrates  running  as  high  as  75%.  Mo.st  of  the 
concentrates  ranged  about  63%.     Previous  to  1915,  a  single  company 


"U.   S.  G.   S.,  BuH.  052,  p.   32. 

-U.   S.  Commerce  Reports,  No.  167,  July  IS,  191S. 


52 


MINERAL   INDU.STRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


])roduced  almost  all  of  California's  tungsteu.  During  the  latter  part 
of  1915,  and  the  early  months  of  1916,  because  of  the  high  prices  pre- 
vailing, prospecting  was  much  stimulated,  and  the  known  tungsten- 
bearing  areas  have  been  considerably  extended  both  in  San  Bernardino 
and  Kern  counties.  Some  shipments  have  been  made  from  mines 
opened  up  in  the  Clark  jMouutain  and  New  York  Mountains  districts  in 
eastern  San  Bernardino  County.  In  these  latter  areas,  wolframite  and 
hiibnerite  are  the  principal  ores,  with  some  .seheelite,  while  at  Atolia  it 
is  seheelite  only.  Seheelite  ore  is  also  being  extracted  in  Inyo  County 
near  Bishop,  and  three  concentrating  inill.s  are  in  operation  there. 
The  Nevada  County  ore  is  also  seheelite. 

Distribution  of  the  1917  output  was  as  follows: 


County 


Kern  

San  Bernartlino  ... 
Inyo  and  Nevada*. 

Totals 


49 

1,943 

474 


2,466 


$58,148 

2,447,726 

573,139 


$3,079,013 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  n.  single  mine  in  Nevada  Oounty. 

The  annual  value  of  tiing.stcn  produced  in  ('alifi)i'iiia  since  the  incep- 
tion of  the  industry  is  given  herewith: 


Tear 

Tons  at  60% 
WO. 

Value        j 

Tear 

Tons  at  C0% 
WO, 

Value 

1905 

■     ' 
$18,800 
189,100 
120,587 

1 
1913 ' 

$234,673 

1906  .- 

1914 

180,575 

1907 

I9I5 962 

1,005,467 

1908 

37,750    1916 2,270 

190.500    1917 2.466 

4,571,521 

1909 

3,079,013 

1910 

208,245 

127,706          Total  value.. 

1911 

$10,169,937 

1912 

206,000 

i 

VANADIUM. 

BibUograpliy.  Report  XV.  Bulk-tin  67.  Froc.  Colo.  Sei.  Soc, 
Vol.  XI.  U.  S.  Bur.  of  Mines,  Bulletin  104. 
No  commercial  production  of  vanadium  has  as  yet  been  made  in  Cali- 
fornia. Occurrences  of  this  metal  have  been  found  at  Camp  Signal, 
near  Goffs  in  San  Bernardino  County,  and  two  companies  have  done 
considerable  development  work  in  the  endeavor  to  open  up  paying 
quantities.  Each  had  a  mill  under  construction,  in  1916,  but  appar- 
ently no  coimnercial  output  was  made.  Ore  carrying  the  mineral 
cuprodescloizite  and  reported  as  assaying  4%  VjOj  was  opened  up. 
Late  in  1917,  some  ore  carrving  vanadium  was  discovered  in  the  29 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNHAT,    PRODUCTION. 


.^);5 


Palms,  or  Wa-shiugtoii  disti-ii-t  on  tlii/  line  between  Riverside  and  San 
Bernardino  eounties.  11  is  .stated  that  a  concentrating  plant  will  be 
hnilt.  There  is  a  growing:  demand  for  vanadium,  for  use  in  the  steel 
industry. 

Quotations  on  the  basi.s  of  vanadic  acid  arc  misleading.  Present 
prices  range  around  $4-$5  per  pound  of  vanadium  contained  in  ferro- 
vanadium.  The  cost  of  recovery  is  high.  The  association  of  copper  is 
very  detrimental. 


ZINC. 
BibliograpJnj:  Keport  XIV,  XV.     Bulletins  38,  67. 

During  1917,  zinc  was  produced  mainly  in  Shasta,  Inyo  and  San 
Bernardino  counties  to  the  amount  of  11,854,804  pounds,  valued  at 
$1,209,190.  This  is  a  material  decrease  both  in  tonnage  and  value  from 
the  previous  year,  due  to  the  lower  prices  prevailing.  The  average 
price  for  the  year  was  10.2<'  per  jiound  as  compared  to  5.1  (*  during  1914; 
14.2f  in  1915;  and  1;14<*  in  191«. 

The  zinc  or&s  of  Sha.sta  County  are  associated  with  copper,  while 
those  of  Inj'o  and  San  Bernardino  are  associated  mainly  with  lead — 
silver  ores.  The  ores  were  mainly  shipped  to  eastern  smelters  for 
treatment.  The  electrolytic  zinc  plant  of  the  Mammoth  Copper  Co. 
at  Kennett  with  a  capacity  of  100  tons  of  spelter  per  month  has  been 
in  operation  since  July,  1917.  The  experimental  electrolytic  plant  at 
the  Bully  Hill  copper  mine  is  now  .stated  to  be  in  operation. 

The  production,  by  counties,  was  as  follows: 


County 

Pounds 

Value 

Inyo  

3,525,004 

3a735 

8,281,516 

9,549 

$359  550 

San  Bernardino 

3,951 

844,715 

974 

Shasta  -.    -- 

Amador  and  Calaveras* 

Totals    .    .1 

11,854,804 

$1,209,190 

'Combined   to  conceal  output  of  a  single  mine  in  each. 

Total  figures  for  zinc  output  of  the  state  are  as  follows : 


Pounds 


Value 


Value 


1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 


206,000 
177,759 


54,000 

3,544 

2,679,842 

152,751 

.— 4,331,391 

298,866 

$12,566  I  1913 
10,598  I  1914  . 

1915  , 

1916  . 

1917  . 


1,157,947 

$64,845 

399,641 

20,381 

13,043,411 

1,617,383 

15,950,565 

2,137.375 

11,854,804 

1,209,190 

Totals  49,855,360        $5,527,499 


54  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

CHAPTER    FOUR. 

STRUCTURAL  MATERIALS. 

As  indioated  by  tliis  chapter  heading',  the  mineral  substances  herein 
ciinsidered  are  tho.se  more  or  h'ss  directly  nsed  in  building  and  strue- 
lural  work.  California,  is  independent,  .so  far  as  these  are  concerned, 
and  almost  any  reasonable  construction  can  be  made  with  materials 
produced  in  the  state.  This  branch  of  tlie  mineral  industry  for  1917 
was  valued  at  $17,-l-40,27(i,  as  compared  with  a  total  value  of  $15,560,445 
for  the  year  1916.  Only  a  few  years  ago  its  value  was  of  but  small 
significance  in  considering  the  total  mineral  production  of  the  state. 
Willi  the  growth,  in  j)opulation  and  otherwise,  of  California,  this  sub- 
division of  the  mineral  industry  will  increase  indefinitely.  Deposits  of 
granite,  marble  and  other  building  stones  are  distributed  widely 
throughout  this  area,  and  slowly  but  surely  transportation  and  other 
facilities  are  being  extended  so  that  the  growing  demand  may  be  met. 
The  largest  single  item,  cement,  lias  had  an  interesting  record  of  growth 
since  the  inception  of  the  industry  in  California  about  1891.  Not 
until  1904  did  the  annual  value  of  ccnient  produced  reach  the  million- 
dollar  mark,  following  which  it  increased  500%  in  nine  years;  though 
since  1913  it  has  fallen  slightly  below  its  high-level  mark. 

Crushed  rock  production  is  yearly  becoming  more  worthy  of  consid- 
eration, due  to  the  strides  recently  taken  in  the  use  of  concrete,  as  well 
as  to  activity  in  the  building  of  good  roads.  Brick,  with  an  annual 
output  worth  approxinuitely  $2,000,000,  has  .slowly  decreased,  due  to 
the  popularity  of  cement  and  concrete;  nevertheless,  this  item  will  be 
an  important  one  for  many  years  to  come,  aud  of  course,  a  market  for 
fire  and  fancy  brick  of  all  kinds  will  never  be  lacking. 

Fifty-four  counties  contributed  to  this  structural  total  for  1916,  and 
there  is  not  a  county  in  the  state  which  is  not  capable  of  some  output  of 
at  least  one  of  the  materials  under  this  classification. 

Except  for  construction  w'ork  directly  connected  with  war  activities, 
}Huch  of  which  is  of  only  a  temporary  nature,  the  general  building 
situation  showed  a  decline  in  1917  from  previous  yeans.  This  was  due 
to  the  war's  demands,  priority  freight  schedules,  and  the  request  of 
the  Government  to  defer  all  but  urgent  construction  for  the  period 
of  the  war. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


55 


The  following  table  gives  the  comparative  figures  for  the  value  of 
stiiictural  materials  produced  in  California  during  the  years  191G 
and  1917: 


1916 

1917 

Incre.ise* 

Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Amount 

Value 

Decrease^ 
Value 

Bituminous  rock   

Brick  and  tile 

19,449  tons 
206.960  JI. 
'        5,299.507  bbls. 
!             48,943  tons 

?63,561 

2.096,.570 

6  210.293 

717,244 

535,:!S9 

390,475 

1,311.893 

.50,280 

10  271 

4,171,519 

5,580  tons 

$18,580 

2.332,721 

7,544.283 

1,130,288 

221,997 

311,380 

1,9711,227 

62,930 

7,074 

3,634,767 

$47,981- 
436,151+ 
1,333,989+ 
413,034+ 
313,342- 
79,095— 

n<*uient 

5,790,734  bbls. 
52,379  tons 

493,635  bbls. 

!           154,052  tons 
25,954  cu.  ft. 
17,270  cu.  ft. 

500,730  bbls. 
209,618  tons 

24.7i5  cu.  ft. 

31.090  cu.  It. 

Magn'?sit?    

Marlil"      _-- - 

6(f43.3f+ 
12.670+ 

3,197^ 
-    536,758— 

Totals             -.      - 

$15,560,445 

$17,440,276 

N'"t  increase 

$1,879,831+ 

ASPHALT. 

Bibliogrnplnr.  State  :\lineralogist  Reports  VII,  X,  XII,  XIII,  XIV. 
Bulletins  16,  32. 

Asphalt  was  for  a  number  of  .vears  accounted  for  in  reports  by  the 
State  Slining  Bureau,  because  in  the  early  days  of  the  oil  industry, 
considerable  asphalt  was  produced  from  outcroppings  of  oil  sand,  and 
was  a  separate  industry  from  the  production  of  oil  itself.  However, 
at  the  pre.sent  time  most  of  the  asphalt  comes  from  the  oil  refineries, 
which  produce  a  better  and  more  uniform  grade ;  hence,  its  value  is 
not  now  included  in  the  mineral  total,  as  to  do  so  would  be  a  partial 
duplication  of  the  crude  petroleum  figures.  Such  natural  asphalt  as  is 
at  present  mined  is  in  the  form  of  bituminous  sandstones,  and  is 
recorded  under  that  designation. 

According  to  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  the  war  has  stimulated 
activity  in  the  domestic  markets  for  asphaltic  materials  derived  from 
crude  petroleum  and  for  imported  asphalt,  but  relative  abundance 
and  adaptability  of  those  materials  has  lessened  the  demand  for  the 
native  bitumens  and  for  tlie  various  types  of  liitnminous  rock  produced 
in  this  country. 

The  production  of  refinery  asphalt  from  14  refineries  during  1917 
was  approximately  220,300  tons,  valued  at  .$2,100,252 ;  as  compared 
with  258,000  tons,  worth  $1,959,000  for  1916.  California  leads  all 
other  states  of  the  Union  in  such  production,  as  her  crude  oils  are 
almost  entirdj^  of  asphaltic  base. 


5C  MINERAIi   INDtlSTKV    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

BITUMINOUS   ROCK. 

Bihlioyraplnj :  State  .MiiieralogLst  Repoi'ts  XII,  XIII,  XV. 

liitiiminoiis  rock  is  used  in  a  number  of  places,  principally  for  road 
dressing;  Init  the  manufacture  of  asphalt  at  the  oil  refineries  has 
almost  eliminated  the  industry  of  minina;  hi  luminous  rock.  The  pro- 
duction during  1917  from  one  quarry  each  in  Santa  Cruz  and  San 
Luis  Obispo  counties  was  5,500  tons,  vahied  at  i1*18,580,  compared  with 
19,449  tons  and  66,561  in  1916. 

The  following  tabulation  shows  the  total  amoimt  and  value  of  bitu- 
minous rock  quarried  and  sold  in  California,  from  the  records  com- 
piled by  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  annually  since  1887: 

Tur  Tons  Value      I'  Tear  I        Tone        I       Talua 


1 

4.5,280  ' 

?I75,GS0 

24,753 

60,436 

16,077 

45,204 

24,122 

72,835 

30,718 

109,818 

34.123 

116,436 

87,547 

165.711 

75,125 

117,279 

44,073 

87,467 

37,541 

78,479 

66,119 

166,618 

17,789 

61,468 

19,449 

66.561 

5,590 

18,580 

1887 —  36,000  $160,000  '  1904 

1888 50,000  257,000     1905 

1889 40.000  170,000     1906 

1890 40,000  170,000     1907 

1891 39,962  1.54,164     1908 

1892 .—  24,000  72,000  :  1909 

1893 32,000  192,036  :  1910 

1894 31,214  115,193     1911 

1895 —  38,921  121,.586     1912 

1896 49,456  122,500  ,  1913 

1897 45,470  128,173     1914 

1898 46,836  137,575     1915 

1899 40,321  116,097     1916 

1900 - 25,306  71,495     1917 

1901 24,052  66,354 

1902 33,490  43,411  Totals 1,147,278      $3,493,262 

1903 21,944  53,106  il                                                          I 


BRICK  and  TILE. 

Bibliography :  Reports  XIV,  XV.     Bulletin  38. 

As  would  be  expected  in  a  state  with  diversified  and  widespread 
mineral  resources,  a  great  variety  of  brick  is  annually  produced  in 
California,  including  common,  fire,  pressed,  glazed,  sand-lime,  and 
others.  As  far  as  possible  the  different  kinds  have  been  segregated  in 
the  following  tabulation.  "We  also  include  under  this  heading  the 
various  forms  of  hollow  building  'tile'  or  blocks,  instead  of  under  indus- 
trial pottery  clays  as  in  the  reports  previous  to  1915. 

The  detailed  figures  of  brick  production  for  1917,  by  counties,  are 
given  in  the  following  tabulation  ; 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAI/   rKODUCTION. 


57 


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58 


MINER.VL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


Record  of  brick  production  in  the  state  has  been  kept  since  1893  by 
this  Bureau,  the  figui-es  for  building  tile  being  also  included  since  1914. 
Tlie  annual  and  total  figures,  for  amount  and  value,  are  given  in  the 
toll  owing  table: 


1893 103,900  $801,750  ' 

1894 81,675  457,125 

1895 131,772  672,360 

1896 24,000  524,740 

1897 97,468  563,240 

1898 100,102  571,362 

1899 125,950  ,  754.730 

1900 137,191  905,210 

1901 130,766  860,488 

1902 169,851  1,306,215 

1903 214.403  1,999,546 

1904 281,750  1,994,740 

1905 286,618  2,273,786 

1906 277,762  2,538,&18 


1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1913 

1916 

1917 

Total  I $45, 


Thousands 

VeIu* 

362,167 

?3,4.38,951 

332,872 

2,506,495 

333,846 

3,059,929 

340,883 

2,934.731 

327,474 

2,638,121 

337,233 

2,940,290 

358,754 

2,915,350 

270.791 

2,288,227 

180,538 

1,67&756 

206,960 

2,096,570 

2,532,721 

,254,281 


CEMENT. 

Bibliography:  State  :\lin('ralogi.st  Reports  VIII,  IX,  XII,  XIV, 
XV.     Bulletin  38. 

('enient  is  one  of  the  most  important  structural  materials  in  the  out- 
})ut  of  the  state.  During  1917  there  was  produced  a  total  of  5,790,734 
barrels,  valued  at  $7,544,282,  being  an  increase  both  in  quantity  and 
value  over  the  1916  figures.  This  output  comes  from  eight  operating 
plants  in  six  counties,  employing  approximately  2,420  men.  The  en- 
largement of  this  industry,  of  course,  depends  upon  the  growth  of  sur- 
rounding communities,  and  a  summary  of  the  lime  and  clay  deposits  of 
the  state  shows  that  so  far  as  raw  materials  are  concerned  enlargement 
is  possible. 

The  cement  industry  is  so  centralized  that  it  is  not  possible  to  appor- 
tion the  production  to  the  counties  in  which  plants  are  located  without 
making  private  business  public.  With  the  exception  of  San  Bernar- 
dino, no  county  has  more  than  one  cement  plant,  The  thi'ee  operating 
)ilants  in  San  Bernardino  County,  in  1917,  made  a  total  of  1,323,931 
barrels,  valued  at  $1,672,054;  the  balance  coming  from  a  single  plant 
in  each  of  the  following  counties :  Contra  Costa,  Kern,  Napa,  Riverside, 
Santa  Cruz  and  Solano. 

'Portland'  cement  was  first  commercially  produced  in  the  state  in 
1891;  though  in  1860  and  for  several  years  following,  a  natural 
hydraulic  cement  from  Benicia  was  utilized  in  building  operations  in 
San  Franci.sco.     While  the  total  figures  are  not  of  the  same  magnitude 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


59 


as  those  for  gold  and  petrolcuni,  the  o'rowtli  of  the  iiulustry  lias  been 
more  than  rapid,  and  a  coniiiarison  of  Ihe  annual  fii^ures  representing 
tlip  ontj^nt  since  the  ineejilinn  of  1he  iiidnslf\-   i^  of  interest. 


State    Higliway    Bridge    over    the    Sacrameiuo    River    at    Dunsmuir.    showing    use    of    California 
cement  and   crushed  rock  in  a  reinforced   concrete  structure. 


Annual  production  of  cement  in  California  has  been  as  follows: 


Tear 

Barrels 

Value 

Tear 

Barrels 

ValUB 

1891 

5,000 

$15,000 

1906 

1,286,000 

$1,941,250 

1892 

5,000 

15,000 

1907 

1,613,563 

2.585.577 

1893 



1908 

1,629,615 

2,359,692 

1894 

8,000 

21,600 

1909 

3,779,205 

4,969,437 

1895 

16,383 

32.556 

1910 

5,453,193 

7,485,715 

1896 

9,500 

28,250 

1911 

6,371,369 

9,085,625 

1897 

18,000 

66,000 

1912 

6,198,634 

6,074,661 

1898 

50,000 

150,000 

1913 

6,167,806 

7,743,024 

1899 

60,000 

180,000 

1914 

5,109,218 

6,558,148 

1900 

52,000 

121,000 

1915 

4,918,275 

6,044,950 

1901 

71,800 

159,842 

i  1916  

5,299,507 

6,210,293 

1902 

171,000 

423,600 

:  1917  

5,790,734 

7,544,282 

1903 

640,868 

968,727 

; 

1904 

969.538 

1,539,807 

1905.. 

1,265.553 

1,791,916 

Totals    

56,959,761 

$74,115,952 

60 


MIXERAI,    INnUSTRY    (IF    CALIFORNIA. 


Mining   chromite  near   Camp   Meeker.    Sonoma   County.     Photo  by   C.   J.    Lyser. 


STATISTICS    OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  61 

CHROMITE. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Keports  IV,  XII,  XIII,  XIV, 

XV;  Bulletins  38,  76.    Preliminary  Report  3.    U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bull. 

430.     Min.  &  Soi.  Press,  Vol.  114,  p.  552. 

Chromic  iron  ore,  or  chromite,  to  tlie  amount  of  52,379  short  tons 

valued  at  .$1,130,298  f.  o.  b.  shipping  point  was  mined  and  shipped  in 

California  during  the  year  1917.     This  is  an  increase  both  in  quantity 

and  total  value  over  1916,  which  showed  48,948  tons  worth  $717,244. 

Chromite  is  widely  distributed  in  this  state,  the  1917  output  coming 

from  25  counties,  tlie  larger  amounts  being  credited  to  El  Dorado, 

P^resno,  Butte,  Placer,  San  Luis  Obispo  and  Shasta  in  the  order  named. 

Economic   Conditions. 

Chromite  is  one  of  several  of  California's  minerals  most  affected  by 
the  economic  conditions  brought  about  by  the  Eui'opean  war.  The 
major  portion  of  our  domestic  requirements  for  chrome  is  for  consump- 
tion in  tlie  steel  mills  of  the  East.  Formerly,  most  of  that  used  was 
imported  from  Rhodesia  and  New  Caledonia,  and  they  are  still  the  more 
important  sources.  The  reports  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Commerce, 
show  the  foreign  imports  of  chromic  iron  for  the  four  years  1913-1917 
(inc.)  to  have  been  49,772 ;.  74,455;  115,886  and  72,063  long  tons, 
respectively.  Similarly  to  conditions  discussed  herein  under  manganese 
(see  ante),  the  increased  demand  for  steel  products  has  also  increased 
the  necessity  for  chromite  as  a  refractory  and  for  the  preparation  of 
ferro-ohrome.  Our  own  domestic  sources  are  supplying  a  part  of  the 
increased  demand,  and  some  tonnage  is  coming  from  Canada. 

According  to  Dolbear,'^  "to  be  readily  salable  chrome  ore  should 
contain  at  least  40%  chromic  oxide  (CroOj)  and  less  thaii  8%  silica 
(SiOj).  Some  ore  is  sold  which  carries  not  more  than  30%  CroO^; 
sometimes  SiOo  as  high  as  10%  to  15%  is  permitted.  Ore  containing 
40%  Cr^Oa  is  more  satisfactory  in  fire-brick  manufacture  than  30%  or 
50%  ore.  "When  other  grades  are  purchased  they  are  sometimes 
crashed  and  mixed  with  higher  or  lower  grades,  as  may  be  required,  to 
secure  a  40%  product." 

The  most  recent  available  publications  on  Chromite  are:  Preliminary 
Report  No.  3,  of  the  State  Mining  Bui'eau,  and  an  excellent  and  timely 
pamphlet  by  Burcli  and  Dolbear".  They  give  valuable  data  relative  to 
the  occurrence  and  concentration  of  chrome  ore,  also  markets  and 
consumers.  A  complete  and  detailed  report,  designated  as  Bulletin 
No.  76,  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau,  is  now  in  press. 


"Dolbear,  S.  H.,  Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  Apr.  21,  1917,  p.  554. 

"Burch,   Albert,  and  Dolbear,   S.   H.,  Chromite:  publ.  July   1,    191S,   by  the   Mining 
&   Scientific  Press,    San   Francisco. 


G2 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY'    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


Occurrence. 

Until  191C,  when  some  shipments  were  made  from  Oregon  and  smaller 
amounts  from  Maryland,  Wyoming  and  Washington,  practically  our 
only  domestic  production  of  ehromite  for  many  yeare  came  from  Cali- 
fornia. From  1828  to  1860,  the  deposits  in  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland 
supplied  the  world's  consumption.  There  are  two  main  belts  in  Cali- 
fornia yielding  this  mineral — one,  along  the  Coast  Ranges  from  San 
Luis  Obispo  County  to  the  Oregon  line,  including  Klamath  Mountains 
at  Die  north  end,  and  the  other  in  the  Sierra  Nevada  from  Tulare 
County  to  Plumas  County.     Chromite  occurs  as  lenses  in  basic  igneous 


Chromite   concentrating   mill   of   Placer   Chrome   Company,   at    Rattlesnake   Bar, 
El   Dorado   County. 

rocks  such  as  peridotitc  and  pyroxcnitc,  and  in  .serpentine  which  has 
been  derived  by  alteration  of  such  basic  i-ocks.  For  the  most  part,  so 
far  as  developments  have  yet  shown,  the  lenses  have  proven  to  be  small, 
relatively  few  of  them  yielding  over  100  tons  apiece.  A  notable  excep- 
tion to  this  was  the  deposit  on  Little  Castle  Creek  near  Dun.smuir,  from 
which  upwards  of  15,000  tons  were  shipped  before  it  was  exhausted. 
Deposits  now  being  worked  in  Del  Norte  County  promise  well  for  a 
large  tonnage,  according  to  recent  developments.  On  the  whole  the 
ore  bodies  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  state  appear  to  average 
larger  in  size  than  the  chromite  lenses  in  other  parts  of  California. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


03 


(Joiicentratiou  is  now  an  accomplished  fact  in  several  localities,  thus 
utilizing  some  of  the  disseminated  and  lower-grade  orebodi&s  which 
have  been  found.  In  fact,  it  looks  as  if  an  important  part  of  our  future 
production  is  going  to  come  from  this  source. 

The  major  consumption  of  chromic  iron  ore  is  for  its  use  as  a  refrac- 
tory lining  in  smelting  furnaces  for  steel  and  copper.  A  smaller  por- 
tion is  nsed  in  the  preparation  of  f(>rro-ehrome  for  chrome-steel  alloys. 
Some  of  the  California  product  in  1916-1917  was  converted  into  ferro- 
cJirome  in  the  electric  furnaces  of  the  Noble  Electric  Steel  Company  at 
Ileroult,  Cal.,  and  some  of  it  was  similarly  reduced  in  electric  furnaces 
at  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.  A  small  amount  of  high-grade  ore  was  utilized 
in  preparation  of  chromates  for  tanning. 

Prices   and    Production. 

During  1917,  the  prices  in  California  on  the  basis  of  40%  chromic 
oxide  ranged  from  !li20-$30  per  ton  f.  o.  b.,  mth  a  premium  for  higher 
grades  and  deductions  for  lower.  The  pi-odueers'  reports  to  the  State 
Mining  Bureau  indicate  an  average  of  approxiraatelj'  $21.60  per  ton 
received  for  all  grades  for  the  year  as  against  $14.65  in  1916.  Present 
quotations  (July,  1918)  range  from  $1.25  per  unit  for  38%  ore,  to  $1.50 
per  unit  for  48%  and  upwards,  f.  o.  b.  C'aliforuia  points.  For  the 
Eastern  buyer,  to  these  prices  must  be  added  freight  charges  of  $11-$16 
per  ton. 

The  distrilnition  of  the  1917  product,  by  counties,  was  as  follows: 


County 


Alameda   

Amador   

Butte 

Calaveras 

Del  Norte  

EI  Dorado  

Fresno   

Glenn  

Lake    

Napa    

Nevada  

Placer  

Plumas 

San  Luis  Obispo. 


1 

Tons 

Value 

52 

$960 

65 

1,420 

5,746 

104,085 

1,613 

34,245 

3,275 

97,255 

8,319 

167,950 

6,289 

109,292 

879 

21,474 

1,466 

36,326 

844 

22,020 

1,962 

43,449 

4,287 

105,384 

473 

9.800 

4,109 

92,846 

County 


Santa  Clara 334  i  $8,515 

Shasta    ■  3,116  68,479 

Siskiyou    '  2,046  '  49,797 

Sonoma   |  226  6,200 

Stanislaus  i  1,438  '  29,24(1 

Tehama    2,053  41,646 

Trinity 242  6,325 

Tulare 450  11,000 

Tuolumne  2,680  54,290 

Mendocino    and    San 

Benito*    :  415  ,  8,300 

Totals    52,379     $1,130,298 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  mine  in  each. 


64 


MINERAI-    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNU. 


The  annual  output  of  chromite  since  1887  has  been  as  follows : 


1887 j   3,000   140,000  '  1904 

1888 1    1,500    20,000  1905 

1889 j    2,000    30,000  1906 

1890 3,599    53,985  1907 

1891 1,372    20,580  1908 

1892 1,500    22,500  1909 

1893 3,319    49,785  1910 

1894 3,680    39,980  1911 

1895 1,740    16,795  1912 

1896 ;    786    7,775  ,  1913 

1897 1 1914 

1898 |. 1915 

1899 L •'  1916 

1900 140    1,400  1917 

1901 130    1,950 

1902 315    4,725 

1903 _     150    2,250 


Totals 


Tom 

Value 

123 

$1,845 

40 

600 

317 

2,859 

302 

6,040 

350 

6,195 

436 

5,309 

749 

9,707 

935 

14,197 

1,270 

11,260 

1,180 

12,700 

1,517 

9,434 

3,725 

38,044 

48,943 

717,244 

52,379 

1,130.298 

135,497  $2,277,557 


GRANITE. 

Biblioyraphy :  State  Mineralogist  Reports  X,  XII.  XIII,  XIV,  XV ; 
Bulletin  38. 

In  the  reports  for  several  years  previous  to  191(j  granite  was  treateil 
iu  a  subdivision  under  'Stone  Industry  '  or  under  'Miscellaneous  Stone.' 
We  have  since  rearranged  the  .sub.jeets,  somewhat,  and  now  give  granite 
a  separate  heading,  as  had  previously  been  done  with  marble  and  sand- 
stone. Crushed  rock  and  paving  blocks  derived  from  granite  quarries 
are  continued  under  the  heading  of  ' ^liscellaneous  Stone.' 

The  output  of  granite,  particularly  for  building  and  ornamental  pur- 
poses, shows  a  falling  off  since  1914  from  earlier  annual  amounts.  In 
1915,  this  was  due  mainly  to  a  strike  of  the  granite  cutters  which 
covered  practically  all  of  the  last  half  of  the  year.  That  granite  is  not 
used  more  is  probably  due  to  its  greater  cost  as  compared  to  concrete 
and  ornamental  brick  and  tile  for  building.  In  1916,  the  San  Fran- 
cisco City  Hall  and  the  Sub-Treasury  Building  having  been  completed, 
the  only  other  large  public  buildings  under  construction  utilizing  gran- 
ite were  two  on  the  campus  of  the  University  of  California  in  Berkeley. 
In  1917,  there  were  no  new  large  pieces  of  work  undertaken. 

California  building  granites,  particularly  the  varieties  from  Eay- 
raond,  Madera  County,  and  Rocklin,  Placer  County,  are  unexcelled  by 
any  similar  stone  found  elsewhere. 

Granites  of  excellent  quality  for  building  and  monumental  purposes 
are  also  quarried  in  Riverside  and  San  Diego  counties.  The  Fresno 
County  .stone  is  a  dark,  hornblende  diorite,  locally  called  'black 
granite,'  whose  color  permit.s  of  a  fine  contrast  of  polished  and  un- 


STATISTICS    OK    ANN'UAI.    PRODUCTION.  65 

Itulished  surfaces,  making  il  particularly  siiitalilc  t'oi-  iiKiimiiit'ntal  and 
ileeorative  purposes. 

In  so  far  as  it  has  been  possible  to  do  so.  granite  production  lias  been 
segregated  in  the  following  table  into  the  various  uses  to  whieh  the 
product  was  put.  It  will  be  noted,  however,  that  a  portion  of  the  out- 
put has  been  entered  under  the  heading  '  Hnelassiiied.'  This  is  necessary 
l)ecause  of  the  fact  that  some  of  the  producers  have  no  way  of  telling  to 
what  specific  use  their  stone  was  put  aftci'  they  had  quarried  and  sold 
the  same. 


5—40563 


66 


.MIXIlKAI,    IXDLISTKV    OK    ('AHFORNIA. 


a 
o 


o 


J3 


a  S  S  M  .b  53 

«>   '^   "    -  ,M  "O 


STATISTICS   OK    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


67 


The   value   of   j^iraiiitc   prdducMxl.   aiiniially    since    1H87,    lia.s   been    a.s 
follows : 


Valua 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
ISOl 
1902 
1903 


$150,000  :i904  

57,000    1905  

1,329,018    1E06  

1,200.000    1907  

1,300,000  i  1908  

1,000,000  i  1909  

531,322  li  1910 

228.816    1911  --. 

224,329  ■'  1912  — I 

201,004  ,1  1913  

188,024  ,|  1914  .-- ; 

147,732  11915  

141,070  I  1916  i 

295,772  1 1917  

519,285 

255,239  I         Total  

678,670  ; 


1467,472 
353,837 
344,08;^ 
373,376 
512,923 
376.834 
417,898 
355,742 
362,975 
981,277 
628,786 
227,928 
535,339 
221,997 


$14,607,748 


LIME, 
Bihliogmphii :  Bulletin  3S. 

Lime  to  the  aniouut  of  5(10,7:^11  hari-els.  \'alue(l  at  ."i^.'n  1 ,380,  was  i>i'o- 
duced  from  eight  counties  during  1917,  as  eompared  witli  493.635  bar- 
rels, valued  at  .ii3flfl,-l:75,  in  191().  This  figure  inelude.s  only  sueh  lime 
a.s  is  used  in  building  operations.  That  utilized  in  sugar  making,  for 
.smelter  flux,  and  as  a  fertilizer  are  classified  under  'Indastrial  Mate- 
rials.' That  consumed  in  cement  manufacture  is  included  in  the  value 
of  cement. 

Distribution,  bj^  counties,  is  shown  in  the  following  table : 


Count7 


Santa  Cruz  

Alameda,  El  Dorado,  Kern,  San  Bernardino,  Shasta 
Siskiyou,  Tuolumne* 

Totals    


213,104 
287,626 


$173,778 
137,602 


500,730 


$311,380 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  o£  a  single  operator  in  each. 
For   table  of  production   by  years,   see  under   'industrial'   limestone. 

MAGNESITE. 

BihUugrapky :  .State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV; 

Bulletin  38.     U.  S.  G.  S.  Bulletins  355,  540.     I\Iin  &  Sei.  Pres.s, 

Vol.  114,  p.  237. 

Magnesite  has  for  a  number  of  years  been  known  to  exist  in  many 

localities  in  California.     In  ciuality  it  is  very  high  grade,  many  deposits 

yielding  material  carrying  above  95%  magnesium  carbonate.     The  de- 


68 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


posits  are  mostly  in  the  metamorphic  rocks  of  the  Coast  Range  and 
Sierra  Nevada  Mountains,  and  are  scattered  over  an  area  nearly  four 
hundred  miles  long.  One  deposit  of  sedimentary  origin  is  situated  in 
the  Mojave  Desert  region,  in  Kern  County.  I'p  to  the  end  of  1916, 
California  was  the  only  state,  of  record,  in  the  Ignited  States,  producing 
magnesite  in  commercial  quantities.  In  lillT,  Washington  entci'cd  the 
active  list. 

During  the  year  1917,  the  activity  hegun  in  1915  not  only  continued 
Init  was  increased  even  over  the  record  output  of  191G,  so  that  Cali- 
lornia's  output  was  raised  from  the  30,721  tons  worth  $283,461  in  1915, 
lo  134.n52  tons  worth  $1,311,893  in  1916.  nnd  to  209.648  ions  vidned  at 


J^l^t---^-^ 


IT- 


Calcining   furnaces  at  the  Sampson   Magnesite   Mine,   San   Benito   County. 

$1,976,227  in  1917.  The  great  activity  in  the  steel  industry  has  called 
for  a  much  larger  tonnage  of  refractories,  such  as  magnesite  and  chrom- 
ite,  for  furnace  linings.  The  complete  shutting  off  of  the  Austrian 
supplies,  and  trausportatiou  difficulties  interfering  with  importations 
from  Gi'eece.  ha.s  caused  the  Eastern  steel  operators  to  look  to  California 
for  magnesite.  How  well  we  have  responded  is  shown  by  the  figures 
given  above.  The  permanent  nature  of  the  improvements  and  devel- 
opment work  at  some  of  the  deposits  gives  promise  that  future  produc- 
tion will  continue  important  for  some  year.s  yet,  at  least. 

During  the  height  of  the  summer  shipping-season,  in  July,  prices 
reached  a  figure  of  $12.50  per  ton,  f.  o.  b.  rail,  for  California  crude 
magnesite.  Before  the  close  of  the  year,  however,  the  market  broke, 
due  in  part  to  freight-car  embargoes  and  priority  classifications,  and  to 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  69 

the  competitiun  of  the  new  AVashiugtou  deposits.  The  Wa.shiugton 
magnesite  appears  to  eontain  more  iron  than  most  of  the  California 
mineral,  whieh  makes  it  desirable  for  the  steel  operators.  However,  the 
experiences  of  the  past  two  years  have  proven  that  several  California 
localities  have  sutificient  iron  in  their  magnesite  to  be  serviceable  in  the 
.steel  furnaces.  This  is  particularly  true  of  the  Refractory  Magnesite 
Company 's  mine  in  Sonoma  County,  and  the  White  Rock  Jliue  in  Napa 
County.  A  recent  (August,  1918)  press  bulletin  of  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey  indicates  that  the  1918  magnesite  output  of  California  may  be 
reduced  as  much  as  50%  from  the  1917  figures,  on  account  of  the 
Washington  and  Canadian  competition. 

Producing    Districts. 

The  Porterville  district  in  Tulare  County  continues  to  be  the  most 
important  in  the  state.  The  Tulare  ^Mining  Company,  for  some  year.s 
the  largest  single  producer,  was  passed  in  1916  by  the  Porterville  Mag- 
nesite Company.  The  magnesite  i.s  sloped  in  underground  workings, 
and  calcined  in  two  vertical  shaft  kilns.  A  railroad  spur  runs  direct  to 
the  furnaces.  The  Porterville  Magnesite  Company  both  stopes  and 
quarries  its  ore.  They  have  two  rotary  kilns,  and  in  1917  shipped 
about  half  of  their  product  calcined.  The  Lindsay  Mining  Company 
.shipped  till'  crude  <ire  din'c-t.  This  ])roperty  adjoins  the  Tulare  Com- 
j)any,  to  whom  i1  was  sold  late  iu  1917.  Tlie  cu.stom  calcining  plant 
ot  the  American  ]\Iagnesite  Company  at  Porterville,  has  two  rotary 
kilns  in  operation.  There  are  .several  other  and  smaller  operators  in 
Tulare  County,  all  shipping  crude. 

In  Santa  Clai'a  Ci)unty,  in  the  iiiine  of  the  Western  ^Magnesite  Devel- 
(  pment  Co.  at  Red  Mountain,  the  material  is  .stoped  underground,  cal- 
cined in  two  vertical  kilns,  and  transported  33  miles  by  auto  trucks  to 
tlie  railroad  at  Livermore.  This  mine  was  closed  nmst  of  the  year  on 
account  of  litigation.  The  adjoining  property  of  the  Pacific  Magnesite 
Company  also  made  shipments.  The  Sherlock  mine  and  others  near 
Madrone  made  some  .shipments  in  1917  of  crude  ore.  Some  new  mines 
were  also  ojiened  up  in  the  Red  Mountain  district. 

The  Sonoma  Magnesite  Company  near  Cazadero,  Sonoma  County, 
extracted  its  ore  both  by  slope  and  quarry  and  has  added  a  second 
rotary  kiln  to  it.s  equipment.  Shipments  of  both  raw  and  calcined  ore 
were  made,  the  former  to  steel  mills  and  the  latter  to  the  plastic  trade. 
The  Refractory  IMagnesite  Company  at  Preston  ha.s  an  ore  which  is 
an  isomorphous  mixture  of  magnesite  and  ferrous  carbonate,  and 
burns  brown,  carrying  up  to  6%  Fe^O...  When  calcined  it  resembles 
the  Austrian  'spaeder, '  particularly  desired  by  the  steel  men.  A 
vertical  kiln  is  in  operation.  The  product,  all  of  which  is  dead-burned, 
is  hauled  two  miles  down  a  rather  steep  road  to  the  railroad,  and  made 


70 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


into  refractory  l)rii.'k  nt  a  })laiit  in  Stockton.  Shipments  of  crude  ore 
were  made  from  several  sinaller  propertie.s  in  Sonoma  County  during 
the  year. 

Some  ore  was  shipped  from  the  sedimentary  deposit  at  Bi.ssell.  in 
Kern  County,  and  calcined  in  rotary  kilns  at  Los  Angeles  before  ship- 
ment East.  Production,  also,  was  resumed  at  Winchester  in  Riverside 
County. 

In  Napa  County  a  eonsicU'rable  tonnage  was  shipped,  both  crude  and 
calcined,  fi'om  the  White  Rock  mine  in  Pope  Valley,  also  from  the 
property  of  the  Tulare  Jtining  Company  and  one  or  two  others  near 
Rutherford.  The  White  Rock  lias  11  vertical  kilns  in  opei-ation,  six 
of  which  were  added  in  1917;  and  there  is  a  custom.s  plant  with  two 
vertical  kilns  in  operation  at  Rutherford. 


Magnetite  loading-bunkers  at  Ingomar,  California. 

An  important  tonnage  was  produced  in  1917  from  the  Ward  and  the 
old  Fre.sno  Magnesite  Company  properties  at  Piedra  in  Fresno  County, 
;ind  from  tlie  Sampson  Peak  group  in  San  Benito  County.  At  the 
latter,  three  vertic-al  kilns  were  built  and  put  in  operation.  The  entire 
in-oduet  is  calcined,  and  luiuled  in  motor  trucks  about  40  miles  to  the 
railroad  at  Jlendota. 

In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned,  some  production  was  made  in 
1917  in  Alameda  County  at  Cedar  Mountain;  in  Mendocino  County; 
and  from  the  Red  jMountain  district  in  Stanislaus  County. 

One  of  the  interesting  developments  of  the  year,  was  the  opening  up 
of  a  new  mine  in  Stanislaus  County,  west  of  Ingomar,  near  the  Merced 
County  line.  The  magnesite  there  found  proved  to  be  of  unusually 
liigh  grade,  some  being  .shipped  which  carried  a  total  of  less  than  1% 
of  impurities.     The   General   Electric   Company  bought  some   of  this 


STA'I'ISTICS    OF    ANNUM.    rRODl'CTION.  71 

M-i'  :i(  M  li^urr  iiiiu'li  over  tlif  pri'vailinj;'  market  prir-c,  ami  sliijipcd 
it  to  its  \\(irks  at  SchiMit'ctady.  N.  Y.  They  utilized  a  part  in  tlie  pre- 
paration of  masnesinm  metal  by  eleetric-furnaee  nnluetion,  and  a  |)art 
as  an   insulatin'i;  powiler  foi'  certain  eleetrieal  installations. 

Uses. 

'I'lic  principal  uses  al  tiie  present  limi'  iiii'lude;  ref'ractoi'y  linini;s 
for  ba.sie  open-hearth  steel  furnaces,  copper  revcrlieratories  and  con- 
verters, hnllinn  and  other  metallnrfiical  furnaces ;  in  the  manufaeturu 
rt  paper  from  wood  luilii:  and  in  sti'uctui'al  work,  for  flooring,  wains- 
coting', tiliuii'.  sanitary  kitchen  and  hospital  Hnishing,  etc.  In  con- 
nection with  l)nildintr  work  it  has  proven  i)ai'ticnlarly  efificieni  as  a 
t'oorin^'  for  steel  railroad  coiiclie.s,  on  account  of  having  greater  elas- 
ticity and  resilience  than  "Portland'  cement.  For  refractory  pur- 
poses, the  magnesite  is  'dead-l)urned' — i.  c,  all  or  practically  all  of 
the  CO,  i.s  expelled  from  it.  For  cement  ]nirpo.ses,  it  is  left  'caustic' — 
»'.  c,  from  5%  to  lO'/i  of  CO.,  is  retained.  \Vhen  dry  caustic  magnesite 
i.s  mixed  with  a  .solution  of  magnesium  chloi'ide  (MgCU)  in  jiroper 
jiroportions,  a  very  strong  cement  is  produced,  known  as  oxyehloride 
cr  Sorel  cement.  It  is  apjdied  in  a  plastic  form,  wliich  sets  in  a  few 
hour.s  as  a  tough,  seandess  surface. 

It  is  staled  that  somi^  metallic  uuignesium  is  at  jiresent  being  pi'c- 
])ared  eleetrolytieaily  at  Niagara  Falls,  from  magnesite  (see  also  ilag- 
nesium  Chloi'ide.  luider  Salines,  post). 

Output   and    Value. 

In  considering  mineral  ju'oduction  the  value  of  the  crude  material 
is  used  as  far  as  pi'acticable.  ]\lagnesite  presents  a  i)cculiar  example  of 
a  material  which  i)revi(jus  to  thi'  |)resent  activity  was  seldom  handled 
en  tile  mark-et  in  (he  crude  state.  It  is  ordinarily  calcined  and  ground 
before  being  considered  marketable.  The  \'alue  of  tlie  calcined  magne- 
.site  varies,  the  San  Francisco  price  for  1!)17  ranging  fr(nii  .+;]")  to  $55 
per  ton,  which  flgnre  includes  alxntt  $4  i)er  ton  freight.  From  2  to  2^ 
tons  of  the  crude  material  are  mined  to  make  one  ton  of  the  calcined. 
In  tlie  earlier  re])orts  the  foregoing  circumstances  were  used  in  calcu- 
lating an  arbitrary  \alue  f^r  the 'crude  material  at  the  mine,  there 
liaving  l)een  very  little  product  shipped  crude.  On  a  similar  basis,  the 
value  of  the  1917  crude  would  have  been  appi-oxiinately  $20  per  ion. 
(In  the  contrary,  howe\er.  considerable  tonnages  were  in  11)16  and  ]!n7 
slii])pi'd  in  the  crude  state,  contracted  for  at  prices  ranging  from  $7 
to  $10  pel'  Idii.  r.  ().  b.  rail  points,  or  an  averagi'  of  about  $!).50  pei-  ton, 
for  1017. 

;\lagnesite  products  iiave  lieen  found  to  i)e  highl>-  .satisfae-lory  and  are 
growing  in  popularity,  and  the  future  for  this  industry  a[)i)ear.s  to  be 
good.     A  large  supply  is  no',\-  known  Id  exist  in  California  and  onl\-  a 


MINERAT;    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA, 


Mitiic'icnt  ik'iimiid  ;iii(l  phrajuT  transport atiou  arc  lacking  to  make  this 
an  item  of  continued  consrqnenee  in  tlie  niinci-al  total  of  the  state. 

Proiliu-tion  of  cnule  ma^nesite  for  1917.  I)y  eounties,  is  given  in  the 
following  table,  with  total  crude  value : 


County 


Tons 

Value 

6,077 
40,329 
9.963 
5,636 
3,196 
1.36,562 

7,885 

$67  422 

387,930 

99  287 



61,335 
44,350 

1  238,853 

,   Riverside,   San 

87,050 

309,648 

$1,976,227 

Fresno   -- _- 

Napa    

Santa  Clara  - -_ 

Sonoma  

Stanislaus  

TuJare    

Alameda,   Kern,   Men- 
Benito,  Tuolumne* 

Totals 


'Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  producer  in  each. 

Approximately  40.000  ton.s  were  shipped  ealiined.  repre.senting  a  total 
of  about  80.000  tons  of  crude  ore. 

Annual  production  for  California,  amount  and  \ahic,  since  1887,  is 
shown  in  the  following  tabulation  : 


Tear 
1887 

Tons 
600 

1888 

600 

1889 

600 

1890 

600 

1891  

1,500 

1892 

1,500 

1893  

1,093 

1894 

1,440 

1895 

2.200 

1896    . 

1,500 

1R97 

1,143 

1898 

1,263 

1899 _. 

1.280 

1900 

2,2.52 

1901 

4,726 

1902 

1903 

2.830 
1,361 

$9,000  1901 2,850  $9,298 

9,000  1905 - -  3,933  16,221 

9,000  1906 4.032  40,320 

9,000  '  1907 6,405  57,720 

15,000  1908 10,582  80,822 

15,000  IPOH  7.942  62,588 

10,930  1910 16.570  113,887 

10,240  1911 8,858  67.430 

17,000  1912 -  10512  105,120 

11,000  1913 - 9,632  77,056 

13,671  1914 11,438  114,.380 

19,075  1915 30.721  283,461 

18,480  1916 154.052  1.311.893 

19,333  1017  209,648  1,976,227 

43,057  ■ 

20.655             'I'nttil.'^     513.663  $4..586,379 

20,515 


MARBLE. 

Biblioymphii:  State  Miueralogi.st  Keports  XIF.  XIII,  XIV:  bulle- 
tin 38.     TI.  S.  Bur.  of  M..  Bull.  106. 

jMarble  is  widely  distributed  in  California;  and  in  a  considerable 
varifiy  of  lolors  and  grain.  During  1917.  the  production  amounted  to 
24,755  cubic  feet,  valued  at  $62,950,  from  Inyo  and  Tuolumne  counties. 
This  shows  a  slight  decrease  in  amount  but  an  increase  in  value  over 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNIAI;   I'RODUCTION. 


73 


tlio  i)iv\ious  year,  though  still  bohiw  wlwt  might  Ije  considered  the 
normal  oiitf)ut  of  former  years,  and  certainly  far  below  our  possibilities. 

The  decrease  in  output  of  marlilo  in  recent  years  is  probably  due  in 
part  to  the  fact  that  foreign,  eastern  and  Alaskan  marbles  are  landed 
here  by  water  cheaper  than  much  of  our  local  stone  can  be  put  on  the 
market,  on  account  of  our  higher  labor  costs  and  transportation  diffi- 
culties, though  California  has  many  l>eautiful  and  serviceable  varieties. 
It  is  also  due  in  part  to  the  general  curtailment  of  building  activity  on 
account  of  the  war  conditions. 

Data  on  annual  production  since  1887,  as  compiled  by  the  State 
]\Iining  Bureau,  follows.  Previous  to  189-1  no  records  of  amount  were 
l>re.served : 


Year 

Cubic  feet 

Value 

Tear 

Cubic  feet 

Valu« 

1887 

$5,000 

1904  

55,401 

$94,208 

1888 



5,000 

1905 

73,303 

129,450 

1889 -. 

87,030 

1906  _ 

31,400 

75,800 

1890 

80,000 

1907 

37,512 

118,066 

1891 

100,000 

1908 

18,653 

47,665 

1892 

115,000 

1909 

79,600 

238,400 

1893 



40,000 

1910 

18,960 

50,200 

1894 

38,441 

98,326 

1911 

20,201 

54,103 

1895  - 

14,864 

56,566 

1912 

27,820 

74,120 

1896 

7,889 

32,415 

1913 

41,654 

113,282 

1897 

4,102 

7,280 

1914 

25,436 

48,832 

1898 

8,050 

23,594 

1915 

22,186 

41,518 

1899 

9.682 

10,5.^0 

1916 

25,954 

50.280 

1900 

4,103 

5,891 

1917  

24,755 

62,950 

1901 

2,945 
19.305 

4,630 
37.616 

1902 

Totiil  value 

$2,005,126 

1903 

84,624 

97,354 

ONYX  and  TRAVERTINE. 

BibUography:  State  :\Iinera!ogist  Reports  XTI,  XITI,  XIV;  Bulle- 
tin .38. 
Onyx  and  travertine  are  known   tn  exist   in   a   number  of  places  in 
r'alifornia.  lint  there  has  liecn  no  iini(iiicti(iii   reported  since  the  year 
1806. 

Production  li\-  \i'ars  was  as  follows: 


Tear 

Value 

1887 

1 
$900  i 
900  ' 
900 
1,500 
2,400 
1.800 

1888 

1889  

1890  

1891    

1892  

1893 

1894 
1895 
1896 


$27,000 
20.000 
12,000 
24,000 

$91,400 


MINKRAI,    IXDI'STRV    OF    CAl-IFORNIA. 


SANDSTONE. 

Bibliography:  State  j\[ineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII.  XIY,  XV; 

Bulletin  .38.     U.  S.  Bur.  of  M.,  Bull.  124. 

An  luiliinitod  amount  of  high-grade  .sandstone  is  availabh'  in  Cali- 
Tornia.  hut  the  wide  use  of  eonerete  in  huildings  of  every  character, 
as  well  as  the  popularity  nf  a  lightiM-  colored  building  .ston(\  has 
I'etarded  this  branch  of  the  luiueral  industry  very  seriously  during 
recent  years.  In  1917  four  eountie-s — -Santa  Barbara,  Siskiyou,  Sonoma 
lud  Ventura — turned  out  31.090  cubic  feet,  valued  at  .$7,074,  which  is 
considerably  less  than  former  years.  The  main  feature  of  the  loss  the 
pa.st  three  years  is  the  dosing  of  the  well-known  Colusa  quarries,  on 
account  of  the  competition  of  lighter  eoloied  materials. 

Amount  and  value,  as  far  as  contained  in  the  records  of  this  Bureau, 
are  presented  herewith,  with  total  value  from  1887  to  date: 


! 

Cubic  feet 

""56'264' 
378.468 
266,741 
212.123 
353.002 

Value   1 

Tear 

Cubic  feel 

Value 

1887 

1888 

1889  _ 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894 

$175,000 

150,000 

175,598 

100.000 

100,000 

50,000 

26,314 

113,592 

35.373 

28,379 

24,086 

46.384 

103.384 

254,140 

192,132 

142,506 

585,309 

1904 - 

1905 .— 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911   

363,487 

302,813 

182,076 

159,573 

93,301 

79,240 

165,971 

255,313 

66,487 

62,227 

111.691 

63,350 

17,270 

31,090 

$567,181 

483,268 

164,068 

148,148 

55.151 

37,032 

80,443 

127,314 

1895 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1912 

1913 _ 

1914  _ 

ini.'i  

22,574 

27.870 

45,322 

8,438 

1899 

1916   

10  271 

1900 

1917 

7,074 

1901 

1902 

■14,086,351 

1903 

SERPENTINE. 
Bihliograpliii :  Bulletin  38. 
Serpentine  has  not  been  produced  in  California  to  a  very  large  extent 
at  any  time.  A  single  deposit,  that  on  Santa  Catalina  Lsland,  ha.s 
yielded  the  principal  outjiut  to  date.  Some  material  was  shipped  from 
there  in  1917,  being  the  first  recorded  since  1907.  It  was  used  for 
decorative  building  iiuri>i'scs  ami  for  electrical  switchboards. 


STATISTICS    (IF    ANXUAI,    PRODUCTION. 


75 


The  following  table  .shows  the  amount  and  value  of  .sei'pentine  from 
1 895  as  i-ecorded  l)y  this  Bureau  : 


Tear 

Cubic  feet 

Value 

Tear 

Cubic  feet 

Value 

1895 

4,000 

1,500 

2.500 

750 

500 

350 

89 

512 

$4,000 
6,000 
2,500 
3,000 
2.000 
2,000 
890 
5,065 

j  1903 

99 
200 

$80(1 

1896 

1904       

2,310 

1897 

1905 

1898 

1906 

847 
1,000 

* 

1,694 

1899           .    .. 

1907 

3,000 

1900 

1917 

* 

1901 

Totals 

1902 

12,347 

$33,259 

•Under    Unapportioned. 


SLATE. 

Bibliography:  Report  XV,  Bulletin  38. 

Slate  wa^  first  produeed  in  California  in  1889.  Up  to  and  ineluding- 
1910  such  production  was  continuous,  there  being  none  between  that 
year  and  1915.  iMany  large  deposits  are  known  in  the  state,  especially 
in  El  Dorado.  Calaveras  and  Jfariposa  counties,  but  the  demand  has 
been  light  owing  principally  to  competition  of  cheaper  rooting  materials. 

The  property  of  the  Eureka  Slate  Company  in  El  Dorado  County 
was  in  1916  taken  over  by  the  Sierra  Slate  Corporation  of  New  York, 
and.  it  is  stated,  will  again  be  operated.  This  will  be  the  only  quarry 
jiroducing  roofing  slate,  commercially,  west  of  Pennsylvania.  This 
Eureka  rooting  slate  has  been  passed  upon  a.s  one  of  three  brands 
accei^table  on  Federal  work,  the  other  two  being  from  Maine  and 
I'ennsylvania,  respect ivel.v. 

A  square  of  roofing  slate  is  a  sufficient  number  of  pieces  of  any  size 
10  cover  100  square  feet  of  roof,  with  allowance  generally  for  a  three- 
inch  lap.  The  size  of  the  pieces  of  slate  making  up  a  square  ranges 
from  7x9  inches  to  16x24  inches,  and  the  number  of  pieces  in  a 
square  ranges  from  85  to  686 ;  and  it  is  worth  $3.50  to  $10  per  square, 
f.  0.  b.  quarry,  depending  on  quality.  The  Ferry  Building,  San  Fran- 
cisco, is  roofed  with  Eureka  slate. 


76 


MINERAL    INDUSTKY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


A  complete  reeurd  of  amount  and  value  of  slate  produced  iu  Cali- 
fornia follows : 


Squares 


Value 


Squares 


1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 

1895  . 

1896  . 

1897  . 

1898  . 
1899 

1900  . 

1901  . 

1902  . 
1903 
1904  . 


4,500 


$18,089 


1905 


4,000 


$40,000 


4,000 

24,000 

1906 

4,000 

24,000 

1907 

3,500 

21,000 

1908 

3,000 

21,000 

1909 

1,800 

11,700 

1910 

1,350 

9,450 

1911 

500 

2,500 

1912 

400 

2,800 

1913 

400 

2,800 

1914 

810 

5,900 

1915 

3,500 

26,250 

1916 

5,100 

38,250 

1917 

4,000 

30,000 

10,000 

70,000 

6,000 

50,000 

0,000 

100,000 

7,000 

60,000 

6,000 

60,000 

6,961 

45,660 

1,000 

8,000 

1,000 


5,000 


Totals 


88,821 


$676,399 


I 


MISCELLANEOUS  STONE. 

Mineralogist     Reports     XII,     XIII, 


XIV. 


Bibliograpltji :     State 
Hulletin  :iS. 

Miscellaiicoiis  stoni'  is  I  he  luiiiie  used  I  lir(]U^li(>ut  thi.s  report  as  the 
title  for  that  hi'aneli  of  liie  mineral  industry  covering  crushed  rock  of 
.ill  kinds,  paving  blocks,  sand  and  gravel,  and  pebbles  for  grinding 
mills.  The  foregoing  are  very  closel.y  related  from  the  standpoint  of 
the  producer.  Thus  it  has  been  found  to  be  most  satisfactory  to  group 
these  items  as  has  been  done  in  i-ecent  reports  of  this  Bureau.  In  so 
far  as  it  has  been  possible  to  do  so,  crushed  rock  production  has  been 
.■subdivided  into  the  various  uses  to  which  the  product  was  i)ut.  It  will 
be  noted,  however,  a  very  large  percentage  of  the  output  has  been 
tabulated  under  the  heading  'Unclassified.'  This  is  nece.s,sary  because 
of  the  fact  that  many  of  the  producere  have  no  way  of  telling  to  what 
specific  use  their  rock  was  put  after  they  have  quarried  and  sold  the 
same. 

In  addition  to  amounts  produced  by  commercial  firms,  both  cor- 
porations and  individuals,  there  is  hardly  a  county  in  the  state  but 
uses  more  or  less  gravel  and  broken  rock  on  its  roads.  Of  much  of 
this,  particularly  in  the  country  districts,  there  is  no  definite  record 
kept.  Estimates  have  been  made  for  some  of  this  output,  based  on 
the  mileage  of  roads  repaired. 

For  the  year  1917,  miscellaneous  stone  show.s  a  decrease  from  the  pre- 
ceding year  of  $5.36,752  in  value.  The  total  value  for  1917  was 
$3,634,767,  as  compared  with  $4,171,519  for  1916;  $4,783,180  for  1915, 
with  $4,231,571  for  1914,  and  $5,186,743  for  1913. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


77 


As  has  been  the  ease  for  several  yeai's  past,  Los  Angeles  County  led 
all  other.s  by  a  wide  margin,  with  an  output  valued  at  .$608,026 ;  followed 
by  Alameda,  second,  with  $413,845;  Contra  Costa,  third,  $322,507;  and 
Sacramento,  fourth,  $199,839. 

Ill  California,  the  general  con.struction  situation  in  1917  appeared 
about  normal  so  far  as  .small  jobs  were  concerned;  but  there  were  few 
large  pieces  of  work  done  except  highway  contracts. 

Paving   Blocks. 

Tlie  paving  block  industry  lias  decreasetl  materially  of  recent  years, 
because  of  the  increased  construction  of  smoother  pavements  demanded 
by  motor  vehicle  traffic.  The  blocks  made  in  Solano  County  were  ol' 
basalt:  tliosc  from  SoiKiina  an-  of  basalt,  aiub'sitr  and  some  trachyte; 
while  tbd.sc  frdiii  all  thr  otbcr  counties  shown  in  tlic  tabulation,  are  ol' 
granite. 

Paving    Biocl<  Production,   by   Counties,   for  1917: 


County 

.\liinuilt, 
M 

Value 

Sonoma 

863 
65 

$35,930 

Rivprside  and  San  Diego* 

2,637 

'IVital.s                                                      -_      -      

928 

$38,567 

♦Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a   single  producei-  in  cacli. 

The  amount   and   v;ilur  nf  paving  lilock   prdductioii    annually   since 
1S87  has  been  as  follow.s: 


Tear 

Amount 
M.          1 

Value                            Tear 

Amoimt 
M. 

Valut 

1887    

*10.000 

$350,000  ||1904  ..-.„ 

3,977 

$161,752 

1888    

10,500 
7.303 

367,500  i  19r]5    

297,2.36  11906    

3,408 
4,203 

134,347 

1889   

173.432 

1890   

7,000 

245,000    1907    

4,604 

199,347 

1891    

5,000 

1.50,000  ;1908    

7.660 

334,780 

1892    

*3,000 

96,000,11909    

4,503 

199,803 

1893   

2,770 

96.9.50 

1910    

4,434 

198,916 

1894    . 

2,517 

66.981 

1911    

4,141 

210,819 

1895    

2,332 

73,338 

1912    

11,018 

578,355 

1896    

4,161 

77,584 

1913   

6,364 

363,505 

1897    

1,711 

35,235 

1914    

6.053 

270,598 

1898 

1,144 

21,725 

1915    

3.285 

171,092 

1899    

305 

7,861 

1916    

1,322 

54,362 

1900    

1,192 

23,775  i:i917 

938 

38,567 

1901    

1,920 

41,075  :' 

1902 

3,502 

112  437          Totals          —    — 

135,111 

$5,287,014 

1903    

4,854 

134,642  1 

•Figures  for  1887-1892  (inc.)  are  for  Sonoma  County  only,  as  none  are  available 
for  other  counties  (luring  that  period ;  though  Solano  County  quarries  were  then  also 
quite  active. 


78 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


Grinding    Mill    Pebbles. 

In  ]915,  for  the  first  time  we  were  able  to  record  a  production  of 
pebbles  for  tube  and  other  grinding  mills.  Owing  to  the  decreased 
imports  and  higher  prices  of  Belgium  and  other  European  flint  pebbles, 
there  has  been  a  serious  inquiry  for  domestic  sources  of  supply.  One 
(if  the  shipments  made  in  that  year  was  of  pebbles  selected  from  gold 
dredger  tailings  in  Sacramento  County,  for  use  in  a  gold  mill  in 
Amador  County  employing  Hai'dinge  mills. 

The  important  development  in  this  item,  liowever,  has  been  in  San 
Diego  County.  At  several  points  along  the  ocean  shore  from  Encinitas 
south  to  near  San  Diego,  there  are  beaches  of  washed  pebbles  varying 
ironi  1  iiieli  to  6  inches  in  diameter,  which  came  fi'om  conglomerate  beds 
made  up  of  wcll-niiuidi'd  water-worn  pebbles  of  various  granitic  and 
porphyritic  rocks  witli  some  felsite  and  flint.  The  wave  action  has 
l)roken  down  portions  of  the  cliffs  for  considerable  distances  and  formed 
beaches  of  the  pebbles  wliicli  are  well  washed  and  cleaned  of  the  softer 
mateiials.  The  rocks  sorted  out  for  .shipment  are  mainly  basalt  and 
diabase,  with  an  occasional  felsite  and  Hint  pebble.  There  is  a  tough, 
black  l)asalt  whiih  is  .stated  to  be  giving  .satisfactory  results.  The  Fresno 
County  pelibles  are  selected  from  the  gravel  beds  of  the  San  Joacpiin 
River  near  Friant.  Shipments  are  being  made  to  metallurgical  plants 
in  California,  Nevada,  Montana  and  Utah. 


Grinding    Mill    Pebbles   Production,   for   1917, 

Tons 


County 


Fresno  and  San  Diego*. 


21,450 


$90,538 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  producer  in  Fresno  County. 


The  amount  and  value  of  grinding  mill  pebbles,  annually,  follows : 


Tear 

Tona 

Value 

1915   .. 

340 
20,232 
21.450 

$2,810 

1916   

107,567 

1917   - 

90,538 



Totals 

42,022 

$200,915 

•* 

STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


79 


Sand    and    Gravel    Production,    by    Counties,    tor    1917. 

Luuiily 

Toiu 

t939,591 

5,500 

1,600 

32,008 

1,600 

5,200 

300,057 

296,611 

10,301 

27,842 

3,500 

5,000 

773,855 

5,733 

1,500 

tl06,9e4 

219,982 

1,900 

12,778 

4,000 

140,137 

7,660 

118,488 

§52,940 

165,721 

12,407 

160,004 

27,255 

1,000 

55,114 

22,702 

3,200 

500 

1,600 

146,614 

403,129 

Value 

Alameda      _  -      ,    -_               

$277,642 

Calaveras --        

2,000 

600 

Contra  Costa  

9,429 
700 

3.200 

Fresno .-      

102,893 

Glenn  .-. . .. 

33,260 

Humboldt 

9,810 

Imperial                                                                                . 

2,041 

Invo       -.                                        _                    --      

3,000 

Lake  ..           —           —                  .-           —    —        

2,000 

Los  Angeles  

252,035 
2,240 

600 

Monterey 

57,810 

Napa   

89,293 

Nevada 

700 

2,699 

Riverside              -                                    -         - 

1,500 

30,753 

.San  Benito                                                          -  - 

3,000 

20,163 

22.335 

47,090 

7,147 

66,019 

6,947 

400 

21,605 

6,240 

1,200 

Trinitv      --    _-... --- -— 

500 

Tuolumne                                                     --         

700 

Yul)a                                                               --        

28,863 

Butte,  Madera,  Merced.  Placer,  San  Francisco,  San 

118,517 

4,073,993 

$1,234,931 

♦Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  ojierator  in  each. 

^Includes  moulding  sand. 

^Includes  moulding  sand  and  roofing  sand. 

glQCludos  brass-foundry  and  moulding  sand. 


so 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


a 


STATISTICS    OF    AXXU  AI.    I'KODI  CTIOX. 


81 


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S2 


MI.NIvHAI.    I.NDI'S'l'm'    ():••    ('.U,II''I)RXIA. 


A  (■(impMrisiiii  of  tln'  t.-ihir  iil'  annii;il   prddui-t ious  of  th(\se  inatei'ials 
witli  the  similar  talilc  I'cii-  criniMil    (src  <uili  ).  ri-voals  the  fact  that  the 
iiii|)i)i-|Mii1   urowlh  (if  llii'  ciiLslirii  nick  and  g'l-avel  bn.siiie.ss  was  eoinci-- 
(IcmI  with  llic  rapid  dcxrlopiiicnl  id'  I  he  cciiiriit  industry  from  tlip  year 
VMVl. 

Thr  aiiiiiiiid  and  \alnc,  ,-iiiiiiiall\ .  of  ci-uslu^d  rock  ( includini;'  macadam, 
liallast.  i'nl)hk'.  riprap.  ;ind  lli;it  fur  cnni-rclc ) .  and  sand  and  iiravcl. 
.since   l,S!):i,   follow: 

Crushed    Rock,    Sand    and    Gravel,    by    Years. 


Year 

Tons 

Value                           Year 

Tons 

Value 

1893    

1894 

'        371.100 

661,900 

1,254,688 

960,619 

821,123 

$456,075   1907    .. 

664,838    19(i8 

2,288,888 
3,998,945 
5,531,561 
5,827,828 
6,487,223 
8,044,937 
9,817,616 
9,288,397 
10,879,497 
9,951,089 
8,069,271 

$1,915,015 

3.241,774 

1895    

1896    

1897  ..       . 

1.09.5.939    1909    

839.,«4     1910    

600.112     1911    

2,708.320 
2,777,690 
3.610..35t 

1898    

1899    

1900    

1901 

1.177,365 

964,898 

789,287 

530,396 

2,056.015 

2,215,625 

2.296.898 

2,624,257 

1,555,372 

814,477     1912    

786,892    1913    

561,642    1914    

641,037     1915 

4,532,598 
4,823,056 
3,960,973 
4,609,278 

1902 

1,249,529    1916    

4,009,590 

1903 

1,673,591    1917          — 

3,505,662 

1904    

'905    

1906 

1,641,877 

1,716,770           Total.'!  

1,418,406 

98,464,795 

$53,85.5,388 

Total    Value    of    Production    of    'Miscellaneous    Stone'    (Crushed    Rock,    Sand,    Gravel, 
Pavirg    Blocks  and   Grinding    Mill    Pebbles),   by   Counties,   for   1917. 


County 


Alameda   $41.3,845 

Amador 1,200 

Butto  89,870 

Calaveras    2.70O 

Colusa   600 

Contra  Costa  322,.507 

Del  Norte  2,7110 

El  Dorado 6.200 

Fresno   136,719 

(ilciin    .33,260 

Humboldt    27.014 

Imporial    6,5,660 

Inyo  3.000 

Kern  31,787 

Lake    2,500 

Lassen   376 

Los  Angeles  608,020 

Madera  1,525 

Marin   158,582 

Mariposa    7,646 

Mendocino  5,600 

Merced   70,500 

Modoc  200 

Monterey    57,810 

Napa   110.039 

Nevada  1,600 

Orange  2,699 

I'laeer 10,727 


$1,322 

Hiverside 

72,364 

Sacramento 

San  Benito  

San  Bernardino      ..           _  . 

199,839 
101,148 
111,158 

.San   Diego       .. 

125,855 

107,957 

55,003 

8,422 

71,668 

Santa  Barbara  ... 

5,950 

Santa   Clara 

111,301 

Santa  Cruz  

.Shasta                                .-  _. 

2,368 
800 

Siskiyou       . . 

134,382 

Solano       ..  -    

39,826 

146,621 

Stanislaus  

6,240 
5,000 

Tehama 

2,373 

Trinity  ..    

7,718 

Tulare    ... ... 

75,594 

Tuolumne  ... 

3,800 

Ventura 

.30,000 

Tolo      .                               

4,300 

Yuba                           .           

28.86.! 

Total      ..                   

$3,634,767 

STATISTICS   OK    ANNUAL    PKODUCTION.  83 


CHAI'TER  FIVE. 

INDUSTRIAL  MATERIALS. 

liibliofjraplnj:  Reports  XIV.  XV;  Hullrtin  :iS.  Min.  &  Sci.  Press, 
Vol.  114.  ilar.  10,  1917. 

The  following'  mineral  siib.stanccs  liave  been  arbitrarily  arranged 
under  the  fieiieral  heading  of  Industrial  .Materials,  as  distingiiislied 
from  those  whieh  have  a  clearly  defined  elassitieation.  sueh  as  metals, 
salines,  structural  materials,  etc. 

These  materials,  many  of  which  ai'c  mineral  earths,  are  as  yet  pro- 
duced on  a  comparatively  small  scale.  With  but  few  exceptions  the 
possibilities  of  development  along  these  lines  are  large  and  with  increas- 
ing transportation,  and  other  facilities,  together  with  steadily  growing 
demands,  the  future  for  this  branch  of  tlie  minei'al  industry  in  Cali- 
fornia is  certainly  promising.  There  is  scarcely  a  county  in  the  state 
but  miglit  contribute  to  the  output. 

("p  to  within  the  last  two  or  three  years.  ;i1  least.  |)r(iductiou  lias  been 
in  the  nuijority  of  instances  dependent  upon  more  or  less  of  a  strictly 
local  market,  and  the  annual  tables  show  llic  results  of  such  a  condition, 
not  only  in  the  widely  varying  ;nnounts  of  a  certain  material  produced 
from  year  to  year,  but  in  widely  varying  luices  of  tile  same  material, 
often  in  different  sections  of  the  state.  Furthermore,  the  quality  of 
this  general  class  of  material  will  be  found  to  fluctuate,  even  in  the 
same  deposit,  especially  as  regards  price.  The  war  in  Europe  has 
affected  .some  of  these  items,  but  not  to  the  striking  degree  that  it  has 
the  metal  markets. 


84 


MINERAI-    INDUSTRV    OP    CA1.II''0RNIA. 


The  following  suinmai y  shows  the  value  oi'  the  iudustrial  materials 
produced  in  California  duiiiii;  the  ,veai's  1916-1917,  with  increase  or 
decrease  in  each  instance : 


Increase*- 

Decreftse — 

Value 


\sb5Stos , 

Bniytcs    - 

'-'lay    (pottery)    

Dolomite    

Fnklspar    , 

Kluorspar    

Full-rs  rarth  _.. 

ii"ms    , 

lii'a]>tiite    

(iypsiini    _ .,, 

f->fusoi'iul  aiiil  diatoinaceoiis 

•■arths    

I.iinvstonc 

Lithia    

Miri'Tal   paint    

Min"ral  water  

I'uinie'  and  Toicanic  ash 

Pyrits    


145  tons 

1,()03  tons 

134.0;i8  tons 

13,313  tons 

2,830  tons 


110  tons 


20,1!)0  lbs. 
:13,3S4  tons 

15,322  tons 

1S7,52l  tons 

71  tons 

813  Ions 

2,273,S17  Kals. 

1,240  tons 

120,525  tons 


152,380 
5,518 
148,>38 
40,563 
14,350 


5.50 
4,752 
2,335 
5;),533 

S0,81!l 

217,733 

1.085 

3,(lllll 

11(1,112 

18  032 

372,989 


130  ton.s 

4.420  tons 

llii,288  tons 

27,911  tons 

11,792  tons 

2-0  tons 


.30,825  tons 

21.301  tons 

2:?7.279  tons 

sso  tons 

520  tons 

I.y42,020  gals. 

.525  tons 

111,325  tons 


5ilO,225 
25,8.33 

154,602 
83,418 
46,411 

2,180 
3,049 

58,840 

127,510 

358,396 
.8,800 
2,700 

340,666 
5,295 

323,704 


.$7  815+ 
20,117+ 
8,061+ 
19,850+ 
32,061  + 

•  4- 
1,630+ 
1,703- 

*  + 
2.893- 

48,881  + 
].'JS,683+ 

7,7354. 

1.260- 
69,446- 
12.797— 
49,285— 


SlUea  (sand  and  quartz) 

Soapstonp    and    tain    -- 

2n,880  tons 

1.703  tons 

.'>7  tons 

48,908 
9,831 
2,850 

19,376  tons 
5,267  tons 
3,050  tons 

41,186 
45,279 
.37,000 
5,612 

7,742— 
35,448+ 

.34,150+ 

Kliiorsjjar   tind   graphite'    ... 

3,277-1- 

Totals 

$1,448,689 

$1,659,484 

Net  increos"  

I«210,7!15  1 

♦Combined  to  oonoe.'il  output  of  a  sinprle  operator  in  ench. 


ASBESTOS. 

Bibliographij  -.  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XIV".  Bulle- 
tin 38.     Canadian  Dept.  of  M..  Mines  Branch,  Bull.  69. 

Though  a.sbestos  of  various  grades  is  known  to  exist  widel.v  distributed 
in  California,  the  prodiietion  for  tlie  ,\ear  1917  was  l)ut  136  tons  valued 
at  $10.22").  Thi.s  was  prineipallv  from  Inyo  and  Nevada  counties,  with 
smaller  amounts  from  Fresno  and  Placer  counties. 

The  increased  value  of  the  smaller  tonnage  of  1917  compared  with 
the  1916  output  is  due  to  the  Nevada  County  material  which  yields  a 
good  proportion  of  medium-length  chrysotile  with  some  high-grade 
spinning  tibre.  The  Washington  Asbestos  Company  has  opened  np  a 
liromi.sing  deposit  there,  and  is  milling  its  rock  in  an  old  20-stamp 
gold-mill  converted  to  their  purposes,  to  which  tlberizing  machinery 
has  been  added.     They  report  prospects  for  an  increased  output  in  1918. 

The  bulk  of  the  world's  supply  of  this  mineral  comes  from  Canada; 
and  Canadian  asbestos,  so  far,  leads  in  quality  as  well  as  in  quantity. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  85 

Classification    and    Characteristics. 

Tlie  word  asbestos  (derived  fiom  tln'  (Ti-eck.  meaning  incombustible) 
a.s  used  here  ineludes  several  minerals,  from  a  strictly  mineralogical 
.•standpoint.  There  are  two  main  di\isions.  however;  amphibole  and 
ehrysotile.  The  fibrous  varieties  of  several  of  the  amphiboles  (silicates 
chiefly  of  lime,  magnesia  and  iron),  notably  tremolite  and  actinolite. 
are  called  asbestos.  Tlieir  fibres  usually  lie  parallel  to  the  fissures  con- 
taining them.  Amphibole  asbestos  possesses  high  refractory  properties, 
hut  lacks  strength  of  fibre,  and  is  applicable  principally  for  covering 
steam  pii)es  and  boilers,  ('hrysotile.  a  hydrous  silicate  of  magnesia,  is 
a  fibrous  form  of  serpentine,  and  often  of  silky  fineness.  Its  fibres  are 
formed  at  right  angles  to  the  direction  of  the  fissures  containing  them. 
Chrysotil(>  fibres,  though  .shoi't.  have  considei'able  strength  and  elasticity, 
and  may  be  sjjun  into  threads  and  woven  into  cloth.  To  bring  the 
highest  market  jirice  asliestos  must  needs  have  a  combination  of  prop- 
erties, )'.  r.,  length  and  fineness  of  fibre,  tensile  strength  and  flexibility — 
all  combined  with  infnsibility.  Of  these  qualities  the  most  important 
are  toughness  and  infnsibility.  and  determination  of  the  same  can  only 
be  made  by  practical  tests  or  in  the  laboratory. 

Asbestos,  roughly  speaking,  was  worth  from  $20  to  $200  per  ton,  before 
Ihe  war.  Under  the  stimulus  of  war  conditions,  the  demand  has  caused 
a  material  increase  in  prices.  The  poorer  grades  which  are  unsuitable 
for  weaving,  and  which,  of  course,  command  the  lower  prices,  are  used 
in  the  manufacture  of  steam  packing,  furnace  linings,  asbestos  brick, 
wall  plasters,  paints,  tiling,  asbestos  board,  shingles,  insulating  mate- 
rial, etc.  The  better  grades  are  utilized  in  the  manufacture  of  tape.stries 
of  various  kinds,  fireproof  theater  curtains,  cloth,  rope,  etc. 

A  very  important  development  of  the  asbestos  industry  is  the  rapidly 
increasing  demand  for  the  lower  grade  material,  on  account  of  the 
)uunerous  diversified  uses  to  which  asbe.stos  products  are  being  put,  in' 
almost  every  branch  of  manufacture.  This  fact  means  that  many 
deposits  of  asbestos  will  become  commerciall.y  important  even  though 
the  grade  of  the  material  is  far  from  the  be.st. 

It  has  been  discovered  onlj-  recently  that  not  only  does  an  asbestos 
wall  plaster  render  the  wall  so  covered  impervious  to  heat,  but  that  in 
rooms  which  have  given  forth  an  undesirable  echo  this  evil  has  been 
absolutely  removed.  ..\sbestos  pulp  mixed  with  cement  and  magnesite 
has  been  experimented  with;  and  roofing,  flooring,  and  other  building 
material  of  the  most  satisfactory  sort  has  been  manufactured  therefrom. 


86 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Value    and    Production. 

Total  amount  and  value  of  asbestos  prodvietion  in  California  since 
3887,  as  given  in  the  records  of  this  Bureau,  are  as  follows: 


1887  . 

1888  . 

1889  , 
1890 
1891 
1892  . 
1893 
1894  , 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898  . 
1899. 
1900. 
1901  . 
1902 
1903  . 


30 
30 
30 
71 
66 
30 
50 
50 
25 


10 

30 

50 

110 


$1,800 
1,800 
1,800 
4,260 
3.960 
1,830 
2,500 
2,250 
1,000 


200 

750 

1,250 

4.400 


1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917  

Tiitsils 


10 

$162 

112 

2,625 

70 

3,500 

70 

3,500 

70 

6,100 

65 

6,500 

200 

20,000 

125 

500 

90 

2,700 

47 

1,175 

51 

1,530 

143 

2,860 

145 

2,:W(i 

136 

io,?r, 

1,916 


$91. .557 


BARYTES. 

BibHograplnr.  Slate  Mineralaaist  Kcjiorts  XTl.  XIV,  XV.     Bulle- 
tin :?8. 

The  ontjuit  di'  eiMide  harvtes  (hiriiii;-  11117  was  4.420  tons,  valued  at 
.'};2r>.(:i.S:l  from  Mariposa.  Monterey  and  Inyo  counties,  as  compared  with 
tile  litlB  production  of  l.liOfi  tons,  worth  sj;")..^)!*!.  This  mineral  is  ordi- 
narily sorted  and  lir'ouiid  Ixd'oi'e  licinji'  put  on  the  market,  and  in  this 
l)repared  condition  lirin^'s  from  .$1.")  to  .$25  per  ton.  The  values  i'(;ported 
for  the  crude  material  in  1917  varied  from  $(>  to  $10  per  ton  f.  o.  b. 
lail.  Tile  pi-inci|)al  use  of  barytes  is  in  the  paint  industry;  also  in 
certain  rubber  articles.  Minor  uses  are  in  tanning  of  leather,  manu- 
facture of  ])ai)er  am!  rope,  and  sugar  refining.  A  grinding  and  chemi- 
cal plant  is  in  o])eration  at  Jlelrose,  Alameda  County,  making  a 
sjiecialty  of  barium  compounds;  and  another  at  South  San  F'ranei.sco. 

Known  occurrences  of  this  mineral  in  Califoi-nia  are  located  in  Inyo, 
Los  Angeles,  ilariposa,  ^lonterey,  San  Bernai-dino.  and  Santa  Barbara 
counties.  Tli(>  deposit  at  FA  Portal,  in  ]Mariposa  Countv,  has  eiven  the 
largest  commercial  production  to  date.  The  tonnage  above  recorded  is 
in  part,  witherite  (barium  carbonate,  BaCOg)  from  El  Portal.  The 
1915  output  was  the  first  commercial  production  of  the  carbonate  in 
the  United  States,  of  which  we  have  record.  The  El  Portal  witherite 
and  barite  are  both  high  grade.  In  1916,  output  began  from  a  new 
deposit  opened  up  on  Fremont 's  Peak,  Monterey  County,  near  the  line  | 
of  San  Benito  County. 

Tlie  fii-st  recorded  production  of  barytes  in  California,  according  toj 
the  statistical  reports  of  the  State  Jlining  Bureau,  was  in  1910.  The] 
annual  figau-es  are  as  follows: 


STATISTICS    OF    AXXUAI,    PRODUCTION'. 


87 


1910 860 

1911 309 

1912 564 

1913 1,600 

1914 2,000 


$5,640  '1915 410 

2.207  1916 1.606 

2.812  1917  ._ 4.120 

3,680  

3,000  Totals  __ ____     11,769 


$620 
5.516 

2.5,fi.S:! 


^9.1ll!~ 


CLAY— POTTERY. 

Bibliuf/raplin:  Stati-  -Mim-ialooist  Reports  I.  IV.  IX.  XII.  XIII. 
XIY.  XV.     Bulletin  88.  •  - 

At  one  time  or  aiiotliei'  in  the  liistory  of  the  state,  pottery  clay  has 
i)eeii  (piarried  in  thirty-three  of  its  eoiinties.  In  thi.s  report  poftei'y 
eiay  refers  to  all  elays  used  in  the  manufacture  of  red  and  hi-o\vn  earth- 
(UWMi'e.  tiower  pots,  ornamental  tiling,  architectural  teri'a  cqtta.  sewer 
l)il)e.  etc..  and  the  fij>urt>s  for  amount  and  value  are  relative  to  the  crude 
material  at  the  pit.  witliout  reference  to  whether  the  clay  was  sold  in 
1he  ci'ude  form,  or  whether  it  \\■a^  iiumediati-ly  used  in  tile  manufacture 
of  any  cf  the  above  tiiiished  products  l>y  the  producer.  It  does  not 
include  clay  used  in  making  l)rick  and  building  blocks. 

During  1917  producers  in  18  counties  reported  an  output  of  166,298 
tons  of  clay,  having  a  spot  value  of  $154,602  for  the  crude  material,  at 
the  pits,  as  compared  with  the  1916  pi'(}duetion  of  184.686  tons  wortii 
!|;146,538.  ■ 

A  tabulation  of  the  direct  returns  from  the  iiroducer's,  by  counties, 
for  the  vear  1917.  is  .shown  herewith: 


.AliUiicihi 
.\iiui(li>r 


6..502 
t28,970 


!t;4,.521 
2S,62.-. 


Lds   Antfoli'S  .-- 

6,276 

10,321 

Placer  ---. 

41.097 

44,097 

Itiverside 

70.798 
310 

5.5,491 
410 

Sacramento    . 

Santa  Clara  _ __ 

6.014 

4,929 

Calaveras, t    Hum- 

boldt, Kern.  Xapa, 

Orange,    San    Ber- 

nardino,     San 

t 

Diego* 

3,331 

6,205 

Totals 

166,298 

$154,6W 

Architectural  terra  cotta.  sewer  jiiiie, 
and  drain  tile. 

Fire-clay  products,  sewer  and  cliiuiney 
idpe.  areliitectural  terra  cotta. 
lioreelain,  stoneware,  pottery,  sani- 
tary ware,  and  drain  tile."" 

Terra  cotta,  sewer  lu'pe,  chimney  pipe, 
roofing  tile,  and  drain  tile." 

Terra  cotta.  rooling  et  al.  tile,  sewer 
ami  chimney  iiipo,  architectural 
terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware. 

.vewer  pipe,  pottery,  terra  cotta,  et  al. 

Drain  tile,  flower  pots,  and  stoneware. 

Red  earthenware,  stoneware,  drain 
tile,  sewer  pipe,  terra  cotta.  et  al. 

Chimney,  and  vitrified  sewer  pipe, 
stoneware,  porcelain,  drain,  roof, 
iloor  and  faience  tile. 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

tindudes  washed  kaolin;  also  some  'fire  saner  us"d  in  making  Hvolirlck.' 
JClay  lor  use  on  metallurgical  furnaces. 


88  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Because  of  the  fact  that  a  frivcii  product  often  requires  a  mixture  of 
.several  flifferent  clays,  and  that  these  are  not  all  found  in  the  same  pit, 
it  is  necessary  for  most  elay-working  plants  to  buy  some  part  of  their 
raw  materials  from  other  localities.  For  the.se  reasons,  in  compiling 
I  he  clay  industry  tigures.  much  care  is  re(|uired  to  avoid  duplications. 
The  new  form  of  clay  blank  sent  out  by  the  State  Mining  Bui'eau,  the 
past  two  years,  and  the  cooperation  of  the  operatives  in  filling  it  out, 
has  enabled  us  to  make  a  more  intelligent  compilation  of  the  data  than 
previously,  both  a.s  to  sources  of  the  ciiide  material  and  as  to  kinds  and 
values  of  the  manufactured  articles.  So  far  as  we  have  been  able  to 
segregate  them,  we  have  credited  the  clay  output  to  the  counties  from 
which  the  raw  material  originated. 

The  values  of  the  various  pottery  clay  jn-oducts  made  in  California 
during  r.tlT.  totaled  $2,106,460.  eonipared  with  $1,844,474  in  1!»16, 
their  disti'ilmtion  being  shown  in  the  I'ollowing  tabulation: 

Values  of   Pottery   Clay   Products,   1917. 


Dr...4..^t  Number  of     1         ,.  , 

Product  nrn,li,™r«  VllIUC 


I 


producers 


ArctiitPftural  terra  cotta j                 7  $536,718 

('hiiiinpy  pipe  hikI  fluo  linings ,                  r,  38.627 

Drain  tile  '                  9  48,366 

Hoofing  tilo .S  '  12.5,ft37 

Kpwer  pipe  -_ ,_                  !)  1  699,378 

"■■tonf'waro  and  .sanitary  ware 5  I  463,736 

Keel   cartticnwarr   __ 2  i  22,6.'50 

Mi.scellaneoiis— including  art  pottery,  conduit  pipe,  floor!  | 

and   faience   tile !                  9  |  171,348 

i — 

Total    .-_ ..!  $2,106,460 


Amount  and  value  of  crude  pottery  clay  output  in  California  since 
1887  are  given  in  the  following  table : 


Tear  Tons  Value       j                   Tear                       1  Tons  Value 

_   _  . y I .^ 

i  I.  !  '": 

T887 75,000    $37,500  1904 84,149  $81,95-.' 

1888 75,000    37,500  1905 133,805  130,146 

1889 75.000    37,500  '  1906 167,267  162,283 

1890 100,000    50,000  1907 160,385  2.54,454 

1891 100,000     50,000  1908 208,042  325,147 

1892 100,000    50,000  1909 299,424  465,647 

1893 24,856    67,284  1910  - 249,028  324,099 

1894 28,475    35,073  |;  1911 224,576  252,759 

1895 37,660    39,685  '  1912 199,605  215,683 

1896 41,907    62,900  f  1913 231,179  261,273 

1897 24,592    30,290  1:1914 '  179,948  167,552 

1898 28,947     33,747  1915 157,866  133,724 

1899  .._ 40,600    42,700  I' 1916 ;_...  134.6.36  146,538 

1900 59,636     60,956  1917 166,298  154,602 

1901 55,679  39,144                 

1902 67,933    74,163  i         Totals 3.622,465  :  $3,924,208 

1903 -. 90,972  99.907  I 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  89 

DOLOMITE. 

Rihliof/ruphu :  Bulletin  (iT.     Report  XV. 

In  the  1915  report,  dolomite  was  for  the  first  time  made  the  subject 
of  a.  .separate  elas.sifieatioii.  Previously  it  had  been  included  under 
limestone.  Limestones  are  frequently  more  or  less  magnesian-bearing, 
and  a  chemical  analysis  is  often  necessary  to  definitely  decide  as  to 
whether  they  are  ealcite  or  dolomite:  the  latter  standing  intermediate 
between  magnesite  (MgCOJ  and  ealcite  (CaCO.,).  Since  dolomite,  as 
such,  has  been  found  to  have  certain  distinctive  applications,  we  have 
deemed  it  worthy  of  a  separate  classification. 

The  major  portion  of  the  tonnage  being  shipped  is  utilized  as  a 
refractory  lining  in  the  bottoms  of  open-hearth  steel  furnaces,  as  a 
partial  substitute  for  magnesite.  A  portion  is  used  for  its  carbonic  acid 
gas  (CO.),  and  part  for  its  magnesia.  "\Ve  arc  also  informed  that 
some  calcined  dolomite  was  used  in  1917  by  I  he  paper  mills.  -As  the 
San  l^enito  and  ^lonterey  dolomite  has  been  found  to  contain  the 
pro]>er  i)roi)ortions  of  lime  and  magnesia,  it  can  replace  an  artificial 
mixture  of  calcined  limestone  and  magnesite  in  the  manufacture  of 
paper  from  wood  pulp.  Dolomite  is  also  sometimes  used  as  a  flux  in 
metal  smelting. 

The  production  of  dolomite  for  the  year  1917  amounted  to  27,911  tons, 
valued  at  .$66,416  and  came  from  a  total  of  9  quarries  in  5  counties 
distributed  as  follows: 


I ^1 

I  . 

Inyo    11,315  $22,63n 

Monterey  6,392  23,468 

Siin  Benito  7,000  15,000 

Siin  Bfiiiardino  and  Tuolumne* 3,204  5,318 


T(, tills   27,911  ,$66,416 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

Amount  and  value  of  the  output  of  dolomite,  annually,  have  been 
;!s  follows : 


Ve. 

Tons 

Value 

191,^         .  .     

4,192 
13,313 
27,911 

$14,504 

iqifi                

46,566 

igi7            _       _ __      _  __    __          ..    

66,416 

Totals 

45416 

1127,486 

90 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


FELDSPAR. 

BibliograpJni  -.  Hp|iort  XV.    Bulletin  67.    U.  S.  Bur.  of  M..  Bull.  02. 

Feldspar  wns  produced  in  four  coiuitie.s  duriiifj  If)] 7,  to  the  amount 
of  11,792  tons,  valued  at  !i'46,4n.  The  considerable  increase  over  the 
1016  figures  is  due  to  tlie  output  of  Riverside  County,  which  was  used 
in  cement  niantifactui'i'.  .so  that  its  potash  content  could  be  recovered 
as  a  by-product.  Other  cement  companies  in  the  .state  are  considering 
a  similar  course  of  action. 

Feldspar  production  only  dates  back  to  1910  in  California.  The 
mineral  is  a  constituent  of  many  rocks,  but  can  only  be  eonuuercially 
produced  from  pegniatit<'s  wlu-ic  the  crystals  are  large  and  quite  free 
from  impurities.  The  open-cut  method  of  mining  this  material  is 
conunonly  used.  !Manufactun-rs  of  enamel  wares  and  pottery  have 
l)i('viously  l)ought  most  of  the  lietter  grades  of  feldsfTiar  produced. 
.Small  fjuantities  ai-c  used  in  the  manufacture  of  glass  and  scouring 
soaps,  and  the  more  impure  material  is  utilized  as  chicken  grit,  in  mak- 
ing various  ))raHds  of  i-ootinL!.  and  in  other  ways.  Various  experiments 
have  been  made  with  the  potasli  feldspars  in  the  attempt  to  extract 
their  potash  content  for  use  in  fertilizers.  Some  recent  succeitses  along 
the.se  lines  are  enumerated  under  Potash. 

The  1917  output  in  California  wa.s  distributed  by  counties,  as  follows: 

County  Tons  Value 


Riverside    11,097  1  $42,900 

Tulare    240  1,580 

Keiii  1111(1  S:in  Bernardino* 4.55  1,931 

'rottils    ..- !  11,792  I  $46,411 


•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  sinprle  operator  in  each. 


Total  amount  and  value  of  feldspar  production  in  California  since 
the  inception  of  the  industry  are  given  in  the  following  table,  by  years: 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1910     - 

760 

740 

1,382 

2,129 

3,530 

$5,720 
4,560 
6,180 
7,850 

16,565 

1915    

1,800 
2,630 

11,792 

$9,000 
14,350 

46,411 

1911 

1916 

1912 

1917 

1913 

Totals          -- 

1914    - 

24,763 

$110,631 

STATISTICS    OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


91 


FLUORSPAR. 

Bibliograpluj :  Bulletin  67. 

Fluorspar  is  used  as  a  flux  iu  steel  and  iron  smelting,  and  in  the 
l)roduc-tion  of  aluininiim.  It  is  also  utilized  in  the  manufacture  of 
liydi'ofluorii-  acid,  glass,  porcelain,,  enamels  and  sanitary  ware. 

In  California,  deposits  have  been  reported  in  Los  Angeles,  Mono, 
Riverside,  and  S'ln  Bernardino  counties,  hut  up  to  1917  no  commercial 
production  had  residted.  As  this  initial  (uitput  came  from  a  single 
operator  in  Riverside  County,  the  amount  and  value  are  concealed 
under  the  Unapportioiied  item. 


FULLER'S  EARTH. 

Hlblioi/nipln/:  Hulletin  38.     U.  S.  Bur.  of  M.,  Bull.  71. 

Fuller's  earth  production  in  California  during  the  year  1917 
amounted  to  220  tons,  valued  at  .$2,180,  as  compared  with  110  tons 
valued  at  $550  in  Wlti. 

This  material  is  soft  and  friable,  and,  in  general,  resembles  a  clay, 
but  is  non-[)lastic.  It  has  no  definite  mineralogical  composition,  and 
its  conunercial  value  is  determined  by  its  physical  properties,  i.  e.,  tex- 
ture, and  filtering  and  absorbent  properties. 

In  California,  fuller's  earth  is  used  in  clarifying  both  refined  mineral 
and  vegetable  oils,  although  its  original  use  was  in  fulling  wool,  as  the 
name  indicates.  During  1917  the  production  came  from  Calaveras  and 
Solano  counties.  A  large  deposit  of  high-grade  fuller's  earth  has  been 
found  near  Elsinore  in  Riverside  County.  Some  has  come  from  Fresno 
and  Kern  counties. 

It  was  first  produced  conuuercially  in  this  state  in  1899,  and  the 
total  amount  and  value  of  the  output  since  that  time  are  as  follows : 


Talut 


1899 - 620  '  $12,400  1910 

190O 500  3,750  1911 

1901 1.000  19,500  1912 

1902  -„ 987  19,246  ,  1913 

1903 250  !  4,750  I  1914 

1904 500  9,500 

1905 1,344  38,000 

1906 440  10,500 

1907 100  1.000 

1908 50  1.000 

1909  .. 4.59  '  ".."iSS 


1915  . 
1916 

1917  . 


340  ! 

$3,820 

466 

5,294 

876  1 

6,500 

460 

3.700 

760 

5.928 

692 

4,002 

110 

550 

220 

2,180 

Totiiis  I  10,174  1  $1.59,005 


92  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

GEMS. 

Hihliofnoplni:  State  Min.'ialogist  Reports  II,  XIV.     Bulletins  37, 

67. 

Accounting  for  thi'  prodiu'tion  of  gems  in  California  is  somewhat 

unsatisfactory,  owing  to  the  widely  scattered  places  at  which  stones  are 

gathered  and  marketed  in  a  very  small  way.     The  following  table  shows 

the  production,  by  counties,  of  rough  uncut  materials  during  1917 : 


County 

Value 

Kind 

Butte    

Los  Angeles  

.San   Mateo    

$125 
300 
150 

2,474 

Diamonds. 
Beach  pebbles. 
Beach  pebbles. 

Garnet,      opal, 
crystals,    dial 
tourmaline. 

Placer,       Plumas,       Riverside, 
San  Bernardino,  San  Diego*.. 

californitc,      quartz 
eednny,    kunzito,     and 

'I'dtal    viiliie  

$3,049  1 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

California  tourmalines  are  decidedly  distinctive  in  coloring  and 
'fire'  as  compared  to  foreign  stones  of  this  classification.  The  colors 
range  from  deep  ruby  to  pin]\,  and  various  shades  of  green  ;  also  more 
recently  a  bine  tourmaline  ha.s  been  found. 

Two  of  our  California  gem  stones,  kuiizite  and  benitoite,  are  not 
found  elsewhere  in  the  world ;  and  these,  each  in  but  a  single  locality 
here:  the  former  in  the  Pala  CJhief  Mine  in  San  Diego  County,  and 
the  latter  in  the  Dallas  ^Nline  in  San  Benito  County. 

Some  rhodonite  has  been  mined  in  Siskiyou  County,  and  used  for 
decorative  purposes,  its  value  being  included  in  the  marble  figures. 

Diamonds  have  been  found  in  a  number  of  localities  in  California; 
but  in  every  ca.se,  they  have  been  obtained  in  .stream  gravels  while 
working  them  for  gold.  The  principal  districts  have  been :  Volcano  in 
Amador  County:  Placerville.  Smith's  Flat  and  others  in  EI  Dorado 
Comity;  French  Corral,  Nevada  County;  Clierokee  Flat  and  Yankee 
Hill,  Butte  County ;  Gopher  Hill  and  upper  Spanish  Creek,  Plumas 
County.  The  most  productive  district  of  recent  years  has  been  Chero- 
kee in  Butte  County. 

There  was  some  chrysoprase  mined  in  1917,  in  Tulare  County,  but 
not  .sold,  until  later. 


STATISTICS   OK    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


93 


The  value  of  the  total  geiii  production  in  California  annually  since 
the  beginning  of  commereial  production  is  as  follows : 


Tear 


Talua 


1900 

1901 

1902 

I         1903 

m    1904 

[fc  1905 

^Kgo6 
H|go7 
HTiQog 
Higo9 


$20,500  1 1910  $237,475 

40,000  I  1911  51,824 

162,100  '  1912  23,050 

110,500  !  1913  13,740 

136,000  ]  1914  3,970 

148,500  1913  3,565 

497,090  j  1916  4,752 

232,642  1 1917  3,049 

208  950  i  — 

mTOO  I        Total    - - $2,091,407 


GRAPHITE. 

BihliograpJn/:  State  Mincialogist  Keports  XIII,  XIV.  XV.  Bulle- 
tin 67.     U.  S.  (}.  S..  :\Iin.  Res.  1914.  Pt.  II. 

Graphite  lui.s  been  produced  from  time  to  time  in  the  state,  coming 
principally  from  Sonoma  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  It  is  difficult  for 
these  deposit.s,  which  are  not  high  grade,  to  compete  with  foreign  .sup- 
plies which  go  oil  thi'  market  alnuvst  directly  as  they  come  from  the 
deposit;  Low-grade  ores  are  concentrated  with  considerable  difficulty 
and  the  electrie  process  of  manufacturing  artificial  graphite  from  coal 
has  been  perfected  to  such  a  degree  that  only  deposits  of  natural 
graphite  of  a  .superior  quality  can  be  exploited  with  any  certainty  of 
success. 

According  to  a  recent  report  bj-  the  U.  S.  Geological  Sui-vey,  "at 
present  prices,  miners  iu  this  country  who  are  working  disseminated 
ilake  deposits  must  depend  on  their  No.  1  and  2  flake  for  their  profit. 
Grapliite  dust  is  merely  a  by-product  and  is  salable  only  at  a  low  price. 
Improved  methods  of  graphite  milling,  adopted  during  the  last  year, 
promise  to  increase  largely  the  production  of  flake  of  better  grade." 

On  account  of  its  infusibility  and  resistance  to  the  action  of  molten 
metals,  graphite  is  very  valuable.  It  is  also  largely  used  iu  the  manu- 
I'acture  of  eliv^rical  appliances,  of  Mead' pencils,  a-s  a  lubricant,  as  stove 
jioli-sh,  and  in  many  other  ways.  Amorphous  graphite,  commonly 
I'arryiug  nmny  impurities,  l)ring.s  a  much  lower  price.  For  some 
purposes,  such  as  foundry  facings,  etc.,  the  low-grade  material  is 
satisfactory.  The  price  increases  with  the  grade  of  the  material  until 
the  best  quality  crystalline  variety,  ranges  as  high  as  .$200  per  ton. 
Because  of  the  present  increased  demand  for  brass  and  crucible  steel, 
the  requirement  for  graphite  crucibles  has  gone  up  rapidly,  thus  boost- 
ing the  price  of  flake  graphite  to  above  $400  per  ton  for  Ceylon  lumps. 
The  coarser  flakes  are  necessary  for  crucibles  as  they  help  to  bind  the 
clay  together  in  addition  to  their  refractory  service. 


94 


MINEEAI-    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIKOBNIA. 


Ainoiifi:  tlic  newer  uses  foi'  ffi'JU'hit''  is  tlu'  pievfiitioii  of  forniatiou 
of  scale  in  boilers.  Tlu^  aetion  is  a  iiieehanieal  one.  Being  soft  and 
slippery,  the  graphite  prevents  the  particles  of  scale  from  adhering  to 
one  another  or  to  the  boiler  and  they  are  thus  easily  removed. 

Occurrence  of  graphite  has  been  reported  at  various  times  fi'oni 
Calaveras,  Fresno,  Imperial.  Los  Angeles,  Mendocino,  San  Bernardino. 
San  Diego,  Siskiyou.  Sonoma  and  Tuolunuie  counties. 

During  1917  production  was  rejiorted  from  Los  Angeles  County. 
Tt  was  concentrated  from  a  disseminated  ore.  and  was  used  for  paint, 
foundry  facing,  and  lubricants.  As  there  was  but  a  single  operator, 
the  figures  are  ccmcealed  under  the  'Unapportioned'  item.  The  pro- 
duction, by  years,  has  been  as  follows: 


Tear 


1901  128,000      $4,480 

1902  84,000      1,680 

1903  .._ 

1913  2,500        25 

1914  

1915  

1916  29,190      2,335 

1917 .        *         " 

Total.* ■    243,690      $8,52(1 

•Concealed  under  'Unapportioned,'  on  account  of  a  single  producer. 


GYPSUM. 
BiUuHjraphij:  Bulletins  38.  (ST.     Kei)orts  XIV,  XV. 
Gypsum  is  widely  di.stributcd  throughout  the  state,  and  is  produced 
to  a  considerable  extent,  to  supply  the  fertilizer  manufacturers  and 
those  of  pla-ster  and  cement. 

During  1917,  seven  producers  in  Inyo,  Riverside  and  San  Bernardino 
counties  took  out  a  total  of  30.825  tons,  valued  at  .$56,8-10.  This  is  a 
iilight  decrease  from  the  33,38-l  tons,  valued  at  $59,533  in  1916.  The 
1917  output  was  distributed  by  counties,  as  follows: 


County 

Tons 

Value 

Riverside      - -  -- 

1,923 
28,902 

$3,001 

Inyo  and  San  Bernardino* 

53,839 

Totals           

30,825 

$.56,840 

♦Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


95 


Tnl:il  annual  ]irodiU'tiou  of  gypsum  in  ( "Mlifornia  since  such  records 
have  hiMMi  conipiled  by  this  Bureau  is  ii.s  follows: 


Tear 

Tom 

Value 

Tear 

Toiia 

Value 

1887 

2.700 
2,500 
3,000 
3,000 
2,000 
2,000 
1,620 
2,446 
5,158 
1.310 
2,200 
3,100 
3,663 
2,522 
3.875 
10.200 
6,914 

$27,000 
25.000 
30.000 
30.000 
20,000 
20,000 
14,280 
24,584 
51,014 
12,580 
19,250 
23.600 
14.950 
10.088 
38.750 
53,500 
46,441 
• 

1904 

8,350 
12.850 
21.000 

8.900 
34.600 
30.700 
45.294 
31.457 
37.529 
47.100 
29.734 
20.200 
33,384 
30,825 

$56,592 

1888 

1905  

54.500 

1889 

1906           .  - 

69.000 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 .-. 

1912 

1913       

57.700 
155,400 
138,176 
129.152 
101.475 
117.388 
135.050 

1897 

1914 

78.375 

1898 

1915      

48,953 

1899   

1916   

59.53.1 

1900 

1  1917        

56,840 

1901 

1902  

Totals  

450,131 

.$1,719,171 

190.'? 

INFUSORIAL  and  DIATOMACEOUS  EARTHS. 
IHbliograpIuj:   State   ilineralogist   Reports   II,    XII,    XIII,    XIV. 
Bulletins  38.  67. 
K      Infu.sorial  and  diatomaeeous  earth.s — sometimes  called  tripolite — are 
"  very  lisht  and  extremely  porous,  ehalk-like  materials  composed  of  pure 
silica  (chalk,  being  calcareous)  which  has  been  laid  down  under  water 
and  consist   of  the   remains   of   microscopical    infusoria    and   diatoms. 
The  former  are  animal  remains,  and  the  latter  are  from  plants.     Their 
principal  commercial  use  is  as  an  absorbent;  and  it  is  also  employed 
in  the  manufacture  of  scouring  soap  and   i)olishing  powders,   and  in 
making  seme  cla.sses  of  refractory  brick.     It  is  a  first-class  nonconductor 
of  heat,  where  high  temperatures  arc  cni]iloyed.  .such  as  around  steel 
and  gas  plants  and  power  houses.     In  such  cases,  it  is  built  in  as  an 
in.sulating  layer  in  furnace  walls.     In  (ierinany,  under  the  name  'kiesel- 
guhr,"  it  was  used  as  an  absorbent  for  nitroglycerine  in  the  early  manu- 
facture of  dynamite. 

The  mo.st  important  deposits  in  California  thus  far  known  are  located 
in  Jlonterey,  Orange.  San  Luis  Obispo,  and  Santa  Barbara  counties. 
The  Santa  Barbara  material  is  diatomaeeous  and  is  of  a  superior  quality. 
Infusorial  earth  is  also  found  in  Fresno,  Kern,  Los  Angeles,  Plumas, 
San  Benito.  San  Bernardino.  San  Joaiiuin.  Shasta,  Sonoma,  and  Tehama 
counties. 

During  1917.  three  ijuarries  ojierating  in  ^Monterey  and  Santa  Bar- 
bara  counties,   produced   a  total   of   24,:]Ol   tons,   valued   at   .'^127,510, 


t 

I 


96 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


which  is  a  material  increase  over  tlie  15,322  toils,  valued  at  $80,649, 
in  1916. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  average  price  varies  widely  from  year  to 
year.  This  fact  is  true  in  case  of  uiauj'  of  the  indastrial  materials. 
The  quality  of  the  product  fluctuates  as  does  the  demand;  when  both 
are  favorable  the  maximum  price  obtains. 

The  first  recorded  pnxhiction  of  these  materials  in  California 
occurred  in  1889;  total  amount  and  value  of  output,  to  date,  are  as 
follows : 


Tear 


1889 39    $1,335  190.5 

1890 , ,:  1906 

1891 I ! [i  1907 

1892 ' r  1908 

1893 50     2,000  1909 

1894 51     2,040  1910 

1895 '. 1911 

1896 1912 

1897 5      200  1913 

1898 ! '  1914 

1899 .; ,;  1915 

1900 J  1916 

1901 .J  1917 

1902 422     2,532 

1903 2.703     16.015 

1904 6,950    112,282 


Ttloi 


Total.'! 


3,000 

$15,000 

2,430 

14,400 

2,531 

28,948 

2.950 

32.012 

500 

3.500 

1,843 

17,617 

2.194 

19,670 

4,129 

17.074 

8,645 

35,968 

12,840 

80,350 

12.400 

62,000 

15,322 

80.649 

24,301 

127,510 

103,305 

$671,10:^ 

STATISTICS   OP    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


97 


LIMESTONE. 

Biblioijraphij:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  IV,  XII,  XIII,  XIV, 
XV.  Bulletin  38. 
Limestone  \va.s  prodneed  in  12  eonnties  during  1917,  to  the  amount 
of  237.279  tons,  valued  at  $356,396.  This  amount  does  not  include  the 
limestone  used  in  the  manufacture  of  cement  nor  of  lime  for  building 
purpo.ses.  but  accounts  for  that  utilized  as  a  smelter  flux,  for  sugar  mak- 
ing, and  in  other  chemical  and  manufacturing  proces.ses  (including  fertil- 
izers, roofing  preparations,  whiting  for  paint,  terrazzo  and  for  CO2). 
The  marked  drop  in  the  1915  output  as  compared  with  the  1914  figures. 
wa.s  due  in  part  to  our  transferring  to  the  macadam  classification  a 
large  tonnage  of  limestone  employed  as  road  metal,  but  which  in  pre- 
ceding reports  was  cla.s.sified  as  'industrial'  limestone. 


Hauling  limestone,  near  Shingle  Springs.   EI  Dorado  County. 

Distribution  of  the  1917  output  is  as  follows: 

County 


Kl  Dorado  L-i 

Sail  Bernardino , 

Santa  Cruz  . _ 

Shasta  

Tuolumne    __ 

.\lameda,    Kern,    Monterey.    Santa    Barbara,    Santa 
Clara,  Tulare*  


Totals 


Ton3 

Value 

43,000 
111,516 

6,527 
57,128 

3,287 

$93,500 

146,102 

11,378 

69,993 

6,481 

15,821 

28,942 

237,279 

$356,.39fi 

'Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

1—40563 


;is- 


MIXKKAI,    l^■|)|■^'l'K^■    (IF    CAI.II'OliXlA. 


Ill  llir  i-Mily  ii-|)(ii'1s  III'  tills  liiircan  xmIucs  Ini-  lime  and  liiiicsldiii' 
wci'f  iiiit  si'fii'ciiiilcd.  Till'  riilliiwiiiu'  taliuiatiiin  shows  tlir  liilal  i-nin- 
liillcd  value  (if  .such  material  .since  rccdi-ds  I'dj'  the  slate  were  lirsl 
coiiipih'd,  ill  liSST,  to  date: 


Year 

Value        1 

Tear 

Value 

1887 

$368,750 

Will    

.f(B8,956 

1888  

381,750 

1905 

878,647 

1889  

416,780 

1906   _ 

925,887 

1890  

350,000 

1907   

1,162,417 

1891   

300.000 

1908   

676,507 

1892  

300,000 

1909   

997,745 

1893  

301,276 

1910   

1,058,891 

1894   

337,975 

1911    

843,778 

1895  

457,784 

1912  

1.034,688 

1896  

332,617 

1913  

803,002 

1897 

291,465 

1914  

896,376 

1898   

278,558 

1915  

442,592 

1899     

343,760 
315,231 

1916  

1917  

(108.208 

1900   

667,770 

1901   

1902 

434,133 
460,140 

582,268 

Total 

$17,907,957 

1903  _._ 

LITHIA. 

Iiihlio(ir(ij>Iiii:  Slate  :\Iiiicralo,i;ist  Keporls  Fl,  IV.  XIV.  ['.nlleliiis 
:iS.  (i7. 

Litliia  mica,  lepidolite  (a  silicate  of  lithium  it  nl.)  utilized  in  the 
maiHifactiire  of  artificial  mineral  water,  fireworks,  etc.,  was  mined  and 
sold  "in  San  Dicfjo  ('onnty  diiriiii;-  the  years  189!)-li)0r)  inclusive,  hut 
there  was  no  eoniiiiercial  product i(ni  from  the  latter  date,  until  191,^). 
Some  amblyoonite,  a  lithium  phospliate,  has  also  been  obtained  from 
pockets  a.ssociated  with  the  frein  tounnaliues.  In  1917,  the  yield  of 
lepidolite  was  MSI)  tons,  valued  at  .t.S.S(X),  and  was  utilized  in  glass 
maiiufaeture. 

Lithia  mica  total  production  in  the  state  has  been  as  follows: 


1899  . 
1900 

1901 
1902  . 
1903 
1904. 
1905  . 


124 
440 
1,100 
822 
700 
641 
25  ! 


$4,600  • 

1906 

11,000 

1915 

91 

71 

880 

$1,365 
1,065 
8  800 

27,500 
31,880 

1916 

1917 

27.300 

25,000 
276  1 

Totals  

4,894 

$1.S8.78G 

STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


99 


MICA. 

lUliliiii/niphii :  State  MiiR'i'iilogist  Rt-ports  II,  IV.     Bulletins  38,  07. 
Xo  coiiiiiU'rcMal  [trodiU'tioti  of  mica  lia.s  recently  l)een  reported.     Pro- 
(Uietion  in  i)revi(m.s  years  has  been  as  follows: 


1902  

1903  

1904  

Totals 150 


50 

$2,500 

50 

3,800 

50 

3,000 

$9,300 


MINERAL  PAINT. 

lllblmgraphy:  State  .Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIII,  XIV,  XV. 
Bulletin  38. 

^liiieral  paint  was  produced  in  California  in  1917  from  Calaveras, 
Colusa.  San  Bernardino  and  Stanislaus  counties,  amounting  to  520 
tons,  valued  at  !|>2.700.  This  is  a  decrease  from  the  tonnage  and  value 
of  lOltl.  The  material  from  Colusa  and  San  Bernardino  was  hematite 
and  .iasi)er.  while  that  from  Calaveras  and  Stanislaus  was  yellow  ochre. 
The  latter  is  the  equal  of  any  of  the  imported  ochres. 

Besides  the  above-named  counties,  deposits  of  mineral  paint  are 
located  in  the  following:  Kern.  Kings,  Lake,  Los  Angeles,  Nevada, 
Iiiverside,  and  Sonoma. 

The  fi^'st  recorded  production  of  this  material  in  the  state  was  in  the 
year  1890.  The  output  .showing  annual  amount  and  value,  since  that 
lime,  is  given  herewith: 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1890 

40 

$480 

1905 

754 

$4,025 

1891 

22 

880 

1906 

250 

1,720 

1892 

25 

750 

1907 

250 

1,720 

1893 

590 

26,795 

1908 

335 

2,250 

189-1 

610 

14,140 

1909 

305 

2.325 

1895 

750 

8.425 

1910 

20O 

2,040 

1896 

395 

5,540 

1911 

186 

1,184 

1897 

578 

8.165 

1912 

300 

1,800 

1898 

653 

9,698 

1913 

303 

1,780 

1899 

1,704 

20,294 

1914 

132 

847 

1900 

529 

3,993 

1915 

311 

1,756 

1901  .- 

325 

589 

2,370 

875 
1,533 
3,720 

1916 

643 
520 

3,960 

1902 

1917 

2,700 

1903 

1904 

270 

1,985 

Totals 

13,939 

$135,380 

100 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


MINERAL  WATER. 

Bibliography:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  VI,  XII,  XIII,  XIV, 
XV.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Water  Supply  Paper  338. 

A  wide.spread  production  of  mineral  water  is  .shown  annually  in 
California.  These  figures  refer  to  mineral  water  actually  bottled  for 
sale,  or  for  local  consumption.  Water  from  some  of  the  springs  having 
a  special  medicinal  value  brings  a  price  man.y  times  higher  than  the 
average  shown,  while  in  some  cases  the  water  is  used  merely  for  drink- 
ing purposes  and  sells  for  a  nominal  figure.  Health  and  pleasure 
resorts  are  located  at  many  of  tlie  .springs.  The  waters  of  some  of  the 
hot  springs  are  not  suitable  f(n-  drinking,  hut  are  very  efficacious  for 
bathing.  From  a  therapeutic  standpoint,  California  is  particularly 
rich  in  mineral  springs.  The  counterparts  of  practically  any  of  the 
world-famed  spas  of  Europe  or  the  eastern  United  States  can  l)e  found 
here. 

Commercial  production  by  counties,  for  1917  was: 


County 

Gallons 

ValiM 

Butte . 

3,500                 .$1,450 

16,985                   7,009 

436,265                   8.563 

129,157                 22.685 

188,368  1              16,902 

126,124                 70,058 

11,300                   1,620 

1,500                     300 

104,991                86,026 

10.230                  1,923 

503.000  '               50600 

Calaveras .. 

Contra  Costa 

Lake   - 

Los  Angeles .. 

Napa  . 

San  Bernardino . 

.San  Luis  Obispo 

Santa  Barbara  

Santa  Clara ._        . 

.Siskiyou    -  ..  . 

Solano   

10.960                   2,580 
121,290                 35,031 

278,350                 35,919 

Sonoma            ..  _ 

Colusa,  Fresno.  Humboldt.  Marin.  Monterey.  River- 
side, San  Benito,  San  Diego,  Shasta,  Trinity* 

Totals • . 

1.942,020  ,           SMOfififi 

•Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  In  each. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


101 


Amount  and  value  of  mineral  water  produced  in   California  since 
]  887  are  given  herewith : 


1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 


618,162 

1,112,202 

808,625 

258,722 

334,553 

331,875 

383,179 

402,275 

701,397 

808,843 

1,508,192 

1,429,809 

1,338,537 

2,456.115 

1,555,328 

1.701,142 

2,056,340 


$144,368 

252,990 

252,241 

89,786 


1904', 

1905  , 
1906 
1907  . 


2,430,320 
2,194,150 
1,585.690 
2,924.269 


139,959  )  1908 2,789.715 

162,019  1909 -   2,449,834 

1910 2,335.259 

1911  2,637.669 

1912 '   2.497.794 

1913 —   2,350,792 

1914 i  2,443,572 

2,274,267 
2,273,817 


90,667 
184,481 
291,500 
337,434 
345,863 

213,817  1915 
406.691  1916 
268.607  1917 
559,057 
612.477 


558,201 


il 


Totals 


1,942,020 


$496,946 
538,700 
478.186 
544,016 
560,507 
465,488 
522,009 
590,654 
529,384 
599,748 
476,169 
467,738 
410,112 
340,566 


50,934,464   $11,930,381 


PHOSPHATES. 

Bihliofjrapliy :  Bulletin  67. 
No  commercial  production  of  phosphates  has  been  recorded  from  Cali- 
fornia, though  occasional  pockets  of  the  lithia  phosphate,  amblygonite, 
Li  (AlF)  PO4.  have  been  found  associated  with  the  gem  tourmaline 
deposits  in  San  Diego  County.  Such  production  has  been  classified 
imder  lithia.  -  1|J 

PUMICE  and  VOLCANIC   ASH. 

Bibliography.  State  Mineralogist  Reports  XII,  XIV  (see  'Tufa'). 
Bulletin  38. 
The  production  of  pumice  and  volcanic  ash  for  the  year  1917 
amounted  to  52.5  tons,  valued  at  $5,295,  and  came  from  Humboldt  and 
Imperial  counties.  The  material  from  Imperial  County  is  the  vesicu- 
lar, block  pumice,  this  being  practically  the  only  locality  in  the  United 
States  producing  thi.s  class  of  rock  at  the  i)resent  time;  and  is  stated  to 
have  found  a  ready  market.  The  Lipari  Islands,  Italy,  have  in  the 
jiast  been  the  principal  source  of  .supply  of  block  pumice,  but  now 
largely  shut  off  owing  to  the  European  war.  There  are  other  known 
deposits  of  such  pumice  in  California,  in  Inyo,  Madera,  Mono  and  Sis- 
kiyou counties.  From  the  last-named,  near  Mt.  Shasta,  some  block 
l)umice  is  now  (1918),  being  shipped  to  Eastern  points.  The  material 
from  Inyo  and  Madera  counties  is  the  fine-grained,  volcanic  ash,  or 
tuft"  variety.  It  is  employed  in  making  scouring  soaps  and  polishing 
powders. 


102 


MINERAL    INDU.STKY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Coiiimcrcial  ]u-odiU'tioii  of  puiiiiop  in  California  was  tirst  reported  to 
the  State  Mining  Bureau  in  1909,  then  not  again  until  1912,  .since 
which  year  there  has  been  a  small  annual  output,  as  indicated  by  the 
following  table: 


1909. 
1910. 

1911  . 

1912  , 
1913. 
1914 


50 


$500 


1915  . 

1916  . 

1917  . 


Tons  !  Value 

380  !  $6,400 

1.246  ■  18.092 

525  :  5,295 


100 

3,590 

50 


2,500 
4.500 
1,000  ,, 


Totals    I     5,941  '       $38,287 


PYRITE. 

BihliiH/rdiihii :  I)ull(4in  ;3S.  ,Min.  &  Sci.  Press,  Vol.  114.  pp.  825, 
840. 

Pyrite  is  mined  for  use  in  the  manufaeturt'  of  sulphui-ic  acid,  which 
in  turn  is  heinu-  used  in  large  i|uantities  at  the  jjresent  time  in  tlie 
prepai-ation  of  explo.si\es.  I<]xperiiiients  ;ire  lieing  made  as  to  the  effect 
of  sulphur,  .sulphuric  aei<l.  and  SO.,  in  the  correction  and  fertilization 
of  alkali  soils.  Two  pro|)ertics  in  Alameda  County  and  one  in  .Shasta 
report  a  total  production  in  1917  of  111.S25  tons,  valued  at  $323,704, 
which  is  a  decrease  from  1916. 

This  does  not  include  the  vast  quantities  of  pyrite  which  are  other- 
wise treated  for  their  valuable  metal  contents.  Some  sulphuric  acid  i.s 
annually  made  as  a  by-product  in  the  course  of  roasting  certain  ton- 
nages of  Mother  Lode  auriferous  concentrates  for  their  precious-metal 
values,  ('alifornia  has,  available,  supplies  of  sulphide  ores  suitable 
for  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid  far  in  excess  of  the  local  re(piire- 
ments:  but  the  excess  acid  if  made  here  is  not  of  sufficient  value  per  ton 
to  i)ay  the  freight  rates  to  Eastern  markets.  One  of  our  large  copper 
smelters  here  could,  alone.  Hood  Ihe  market  with  sulphuric  acid  from 
its  copper  ores  roasted. 

The  total  pyrite  production  in  California  to  date  is  ;ts  follow,s : 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

Tona 

Value 

1898 

6,000 

5,400 

3,642 

4,578 

17,525 

24,311 

15,043 

15,503 

46,689 

82,270 

107.081 

$30,000 

28,620 
21,133 
18,429 
60,306 
94  000 

1909                  

457,867 
42,621 
54,225 
69,872 
79,000 
79,267 
92.462 
120,525 
111.325 

$1,389,802 
179,862 
182,954 

1899 

1900    

1910 

1911 

1901 

1902    

1912 

1913 

203,470 
218,537 

1903 

1914 

230  058 

1904 

62,992 
63  958 

1915  — 

293.148 

1905 

1916    —    — 

372.969 

1906 

145.895 
251,774 
610,335 

1917    

323,704 

1907 

1908 

:         Totals  

1,435,206 

$4,781,996 

STATISTICS    (IF    AXNUAIj    HKODLlCTlOiV. 


103 


SILICA— SAND  and  QUARTZ. 
mill iiiura pit ij :    Stati-    .MiiifralogLst    Reports    IX,    XIV.     Bulletins 
:5S.  67. 
We  cDiiiliine  these  matei-inls.  beeiUise  of  tlie  overlapping'  i-oles  of  veiu 
i|u;iit/',  wliirli  is  mined  for  use  in  gla.ss  niaUinji;  and  as  an  abra-sive,  and 
tliat  of  .silica  sand  which,  although  mainly  utilized  in  glass  manufacture, 
:Jso  s(M'ves  as  an  abrasive. 

.\  iiortion  of  the  tonnage  of  vein  ijuartz  in  1916  and  1917  was  em- 
ployed in  the  preparation  of  ferro-.silicou  by  tlie  electric  furnace.  Some 
also  was  utilized  as  a  foundry  tlux. 

The  production  of  silica  in  1917  amounted  to  19,376  tous,  valued  at 
■^41.166  from  13  properties  in  Amador,  El  Dorado,  Kern,  Los  Angeles, 
ilcnterey.  Riverside,  Shasta  and  Tulare  eountie.s. 


Amador  

Kl  I>()rn(io 

Kivcr.sido    

Oiiiiiveras.    Los    Angeles,    Monterey,    Plumas,    San 
Diego,  Shasta* 

Totals 


4,771 

2,684 

770 

?20,766 
4,506 
2,400 

11,151 

13,491 

19,.'J76 

$41,166 

♦Combined  to  conceal  output  of  a  single  operator  in  each. 

Of  the  above  total.  .").326  tons  were  of  vein  and  lionlder  (luartz.  and 
l-t.(l.">ll  tons,  sand. 

ri-actii-ally  all  the  glass  sand  produced  in  California  occurs  as  such 
i.iul  needs  no  grinding.  There  are  various  deposits  of  quartz  which 
I  (luld  be  utilized  for  glass  making,  but  to  date  there  has  been  only  a 
.small  eonnnercial  production  of  this  cla.ss  of  material. 

Glass  sand  has  been  produced  in  the  following  counties  of  the  state: 
.Vlameda.  Amador.  El  Dorado.  Los  Angeles.  .Alonterey.  Orange.  Placer. 
Riverside.  San  .Ioai|ui]i.  and  Tulare.  The  chief  producing  centers  have 
been  Amador,  .Monterey  and  Los  Angeles  counties.  The  industry  is  of 
limited  importance,  .so  far,  because  of  the  fact  tbat  nuich  of  the  avail- 
able material  is  not  of  a  grade  which  will  produce  first-class  colorless 
ula.ss. 


11)4 


.MIXERAl.    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Total  silica  prodiictiuu  in  (Jalifoniia  hiiiL-e  tlie  ineeptiuu  cjf  the  indus- 
try, in  1899,  is  shown  below,  being  mainly  glass  sand: 


Year 

Tons        j 

Value                             Tear 

Tons 

Value 

1899 

3,000 

2,200 
5,000 
4,500 
7,725 

10,004 
9.257 
9.750 

11.065 
9.255 

12,2.59 

$3,500    '  1910 

19,224 
8,620 
13,075 
18,618 
28,538 
28,904 
20,880 
19.376 

$18,265 

8  672 

1900 

2,200  '  1911    

1901 

16,250  1  1912       

15  404 

1902 

12,225     1913 

21,899 

1903 

7,525     1914 

22,688 

1901 

1905 

12,276     1915 

8,121     1916      

34.322 
48.908 

1906 

13,.375  1  1917 ^ 

41,166 

1907 

8,178  - 
22.045            'rotnls    

1908 

241,250 

$342,536 

1909 

2,5,517 

SOAPSTONE  and  TALC. 
ate    MiiirraJo-'ist    Reports   XIT.    XIV. 


Bulletins 
ifc-urs   widely    distributed 


liiblionraplni : 
38.  67. 

!^oai).stone — al.so  i-allcd  talc  or  steatitc- 
I  iii'iiiighout  California,  ll  i.s  iVuiid  as  a  hydration  product  in  the  alter- 
ation of  inafiiicsian  silicates,  and  is  often  associated  with  serpentine 
and  actinolite.  lint  few  deijosils  have  lieen  ]irovon  of  especial  value  to 
(late,  although  there  is  an  imdoubted  future  for  thi.s  branch  of  the  min- 
eral industry  in  the  slate.  Deposits  of  high  grade  white  talc,  the  eiiual 
I'f  the  imported  Italian  article,  are  now  lieing  developed  in  Inyo  and 
S,-in  Hernai'dino  counties.  It  is  iisetl  in  making  paper,  toilet  articles, 
sua]),  luhricaids.  tiling,  etc..  and  for  such  is  ordinarily  ground  to  about 
2(1(1  iiiesli  Itefore  marketing.  In  this  condition  it  brings  .$15  per  ton 
rnd  upwards,  depending  on  ijuajity.  Commercially,  the  higher  grades 
are  called  talc,  and  the  lower,  soapstone.  Soapstone  blocks  are  used 
in  tireless  cookers,  electrical  switchboards,  laboratory  table  tops  and 
laundry  tubs;  and  the  crushed  material  is  u.sed  in  roofing  papers. 

There  was  a  total  uuti)ut  in  1917  of  5,267  tons,  valued  at  $45,279. 
Prom  four  producers  in  Inyo  County  and  one  each  in  the  other  counties. 
This  is  approximately  a  four-fold  increase  over  the  1916  output.. 


I 


County 

Tons 

Value 

Invo 

4,736 
531 

$41,044 
4,235 

Amador,  Los  Angeles,  San  Bernardino,  Tulare* 

Totals 

5,267 

$45,279 

__ 

ST.VTISTICS    OF    AXNr.VL    I'RODIICVI'ION. 


105 


I'rudiR'tiuu  has  been  iiitri-iiiitti-nt   in  the  state  since   1S1I3,  a.s  shown 
in  the  following  table  : 


P                           Tear 

Tons 

Valite 

Year 

Tona 

Value 

1893 

1894 

1895 -.._ 

1896 

400 

25" 

' "io" ' 

14 
219 
228 
300 

i 

$17,750 
375 

119 

288 

10.124 

2,315 

3,000 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910    

33 
740 

$48 

280 

7,260 

1897 

1911 

&        1898 

1912      

1,750 
1,350 
1,000 
1,663 

1,703 
5,267 

7,350 

■       1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

1905 

1906... 

1913    - 

6,150 

1914    

4,500 

1915    

14,750 

1916 

9,831 

1917 

45,279 

Totals 

14,705 

$129,419 

STRONTIUM. 

RUAlngmplni :  BnUetin  (57.     U.  S.  G.  S.,  Bnll.  r)4(l;  660-1. 

Prndnetion  of  .strontium  minerals  in  California  in  1917  amounted  to 
;!,050  tons,  worth  sf!:57,rnii,  IVom  San  Bei'tinrdino  County,  being  mainly 
eelestite  (SrSOJ.  but  including  also  some  earbonate,  strontianite 
CSrCOJ.  The  first  recorded  eununereial  cutpnt  of  strontium  minerals 
in  California,  was  in  1016.  The  oecurrence  of  the  earbonate  is  particu- 
larly interesting  and  valual)le.  as  it  appears  to  be  the  first  considerable 
deposit  of  eonuiiei-eial  im|>()i'tanee  so  far  opened  u))  in  the  United  States. 
Shipments  reported  as  a\(M-aging  8(1%  SrCO.,  are  being  made.  The 
deposit  is  associated  with  deposits  of  barite. 

In  addition  to  the  Imperial  County  oecurrence  noted  in  our  1916 
bulletin,  celestite  is  also  found  near  Calico,  and  in  the  Avawatz  Moun- 
tains in  San  Bernardino  County,  but  as  yet  undeveloped.  The  above 
out])ut  was  cnnverted  to  the  nitrate. 

It  is  estimated  l)y  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  that  prior  to  191-4 
about  2.000  tons  of  strontium  nitrate  was  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
Hares,  or  Costen  and  Bengal  lights  and  fireworks.  The  demand  has 
since  increased  considerably.  Prcviou.sly.  the  nitrate  was  imported 
from  Germany,  England  and  Sicily. 

There  is  undoubtedly  a  good  future  for  the  strontium  minerals  in 
California,  if  the  beet-sugar  factories  will  take  up  their  use,  as  has 
been  done  in  Germany.  Strontia  is  much  more  efficient  and  satisfac- 
tory in  that  process  than  lime,  as  it  is  stated  to  give  an  additional 
recovery  of  6%-89f  over  lime.  In  Germany  and  Russia,  about  100,000 
tons  of  strontium  hydroxide  were  used  annually  in  the  sugar  industry. 

Of  the  two  minerals,  strontianite  is  the  more  desirable,  but  scarcer. 


106  XIINER.U:.    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Celestite  is  iiKire  ahmubmt.  niul  can  be  sold  in  largu  quHiititiex  at  about 
^H-ifilS  iKT  ton  at  tlu'  Athmtii-  seaboard.  Tho  oarlxiiiatc  is  at  prcsoiU. 
brin.ijiiisr  !|540-$.")()  jut  ton.  ciMido,  di'iu'nding:  on  ((uality.  Cclcstito  is 
I'liund  with  linicstuncs  and  sandstone.s  Jliid  is  sonu'timo-s  associati'il  \vi1li 
jivpsuni.  Strontiaiiiti'  is  also  lound  with  linirstonc.  bnt  associ.-iti'd  witli 
baritc  and  calciti'. 

SULPHUR. 

Hibimyniphii:  State  Mineralogist  Reports  W .  Xlll.  XIV.  Bulle- 
tins 38,  67. 

Tiiere  is.  at  present,  no  eoiinnereial  ontput  of  native  sulplnir  in  Cali- 
fornia altliou,o;h  this  mineral  has  been  found  to  .some  extent  in  (\)lusa. 
Tniperial.  Inyo.  Keiii.  Lake.  ;\lariposa,  San  liernardino.  Sonoma, 
Tehaina.  and  A'entura  eounties.  C)perations  were  begun  late  in  1917, 
'>n  a  property  in  Inyo  County,  and  some  material  .stated  to  assay  -10% 
suljibur  was  mined.  Diffieulties  were  encountered  in  refining  it,  so  that 
no  commercial  i^rodiu-tion  has  as  yet  been  made.  There  is  .some  possi- 
1)ility  of  shipments  being  made  in  lOlS  from  Colusa  Count.v. 

Sul|)bur  was  jirodueed  at  the  famous  Suli)bur  Hank  mine,  in  Lake 
("ounty.  during  the  years  1860-1868  (inc.).  totaling  !I41  tons,  valued  at 
^o.^.nOt) :  following  which  the  jiroperty  became  more  valuabl(>  for  its 
<iuicksilver.  There  has  been  no  commercial  yield  of  sulphur  in  Cali- 
fornia since  that  period. 

Al)out  S7,0(l(1  tons  of  sulplnir  pii-  year  ai'c  imi>orted  to  the  I'liited 
States  from  Japan,  most  of  it  coniing  in  Ihiough  the  poi-t  of  San 
Francisco. 


STATISTICS    (IF    ANXLAI.   PRODL'CTIOX. 


107 


CHAPTER  SIX. 

SALINES. 

I'lidci-  this  lii-adiiiji:  aic  included  l)()rax.  eoiumon  salt,  soda,  potash 
;iii(l  iitlun-  alkaline  salts.  The  first  two  have  been  produced  in  a  uuin- 
l^er  of  localities  in  California,  more  or  less  regtilarly  since  the  early 
>ixtii's.  altiioiisrli  the  State  ^Iinin<:  Hiireau  kept  no  annual  records  of 
output  previous  to  ]SS7.  ICxcept  for  a  single  year's  absence,  .soda  has 
had  a  continuous  production  since  1894.  Potash,  and  uiagne.sium  chlor- 
ide and  sulphate  have  cnly  recently  been  added  to  the  commercial  list, 
.vhile  the  nitrates  are  still  pmspective. 

Our  main  resources  of  salines  are  the  lake  beds  of  the  desert  regions 
(if  Imperial.  Inyn.  Kern.  Los  Angeles,  San  Bernardino.  San  Ltiis 
()l)isi)o.  and  SiskivdU  counties,  and  the  waters  of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

The  following  tabulation  shows  amount  and  value  of  the  saline  min- 
I  rals  produced  in  California  during  the  years  1916  and  1917.  with 
increase  in  value  for  1917  as  compared  with  the  previous  year: 


I'cir:ix    10:j..523  $2,409.37.5 

^liigncsiium  salts 8.51  fi.407 

I'.itash    17.908  fiftS.fiOo 

^;ilt    186.148  4.5.5,69.5 

S.mIu    10..593  264.825 

Totals    i  $3,799,907 


109,944  $2,.561,9.58 

1.064  34,973 

129,022  4,202,889 

227,825  5^.373 

24,.505  928,578 


Increase 

IViiliiel 


$1.52,58:i-i- 

28,.566+ 

3..5.39.284-i- 

128.678-r 

663,7.53+ 


$8,312,771     H512.864+ 


BORAX. 

B'iblioyntpli!/:  State  .Mineralogist  Reports  III.  X.  XII.  XIII.  XIV. 
XV.     Bulletins  24.  67. 

Borax  wa.s  first  discovered  in  California  in  the  watei-s  of  Tuscan 
Springs  in  Tehama  County.  January  8,  1856.  Borax  Lake,  in  Lake 
I  (lunty,  was  discovered  in  September  of  the  same  year  by  Dr.  John  A. 
\'eatch.  This  deposit  was  worked  in  1861^1868.  inclusive,  and  during 
ihat  time  produced  1.181.:i65  pounds  of  refined  borax.  This  was  the 
lirst  commercial  output  of  this  salt  in  the  United  States,  and  California 
is  still  today  the  only  American  ])roducer  of  bora.x. 

Production  from  the  dry  lake  oi-  '|ilaya'  deposits  (tf  liiyn  and  San 
KrniardiiKi  counties  began  in  187X:  Iml  it  was  not  until  1SS7  that  the 
borax  industry  was  revnliiticmizcil  by  the  discovei-y  of  the  colemanite 
I'eds   at    ('alien    in    San    P>er)i;n-ilino    ('nniitv.     These    have   since    been 


ins 


MINERAL    INDUSTRV    (IF    CALIFORNIA. 


worked  out,  and  thu  present  output  eonies  from  similar  beds  in  Inyo 
and  Los  Angeles  counties.  The  eolemanite  deposits  of  Ventura  County 
are  at  })resent  uuworked.  owing  to  lack  of  transportation  facilities. 

During  1917  two  producers  reported  a  total  output  of  109,944  tons, 
valued  at  $2,561,958,  compared  with  103,523  tons,  valued  at  $2,409,375, 
ill  1916. 

Value  of  the  state's  Ijoi-ax  output  since  1887  is  shown  in  the  following 
1  able : 


Tear 

Valiu 

Tear 

Talin 

1887 

$116,689 

196,636 

145,473 

480,152 

640,000 

838,787 

593,292 

807,807 

595.900 

675,400 

1,080,000 

1,153,000 

1,139,882 

1,013,251 

£82,380 

2,234,994 

661,400 

1901      ..     .. 

ISS9S  810 

1888 

1889 

1890  

1891   

1892  - 

1893  

1894   

1905   

1906    

1907 

1908   _.. 

1909   

1910  

1911         

1,019,158 
1,182,410 
1,200,913 
1,117,000 
1,163,960 
1,177,960 
1,456  672 

1895  

1896 

1912  

1913         

1,122,713 
1,491,530 

1897 

1914                

1,483  500 

1898  

1915         

1,663,521 

1899        

1916        .                 ... 

2,409,375 

1900  

1917    

2,.561.9.58 

1901 

1902  .  .      . 

Tola] 

$33,104,523 

1903    

MAGNESIUM  SALTS. 

Magnesium  chloride  is  an  imixirtaut  item  in  certain  chemical  uses, 
and  in  the  preparation  of  Sorel  cement  in  laying  magnesite  floors.  In 
the  past,  Germany  has  been  the  principal  source  of  this  chloride,  which 
source  is  at  the  present  time,  of  course,  cut  off.  For  this  reason  experi- 
irients  have  been  made  to  prepare  it  by  acid  solution  from  magnesite, 
which  is  so  abundant  in  California.  Some  of  the  salt  companies  began 
its  commercial  preparation  in  ]916,  from  the  residual  bitterns  obtained 
(luring  the  evaporation  of  sea  water  for  its  sodium  chloride. 

In  ]917.  in  addition  to  the  chloride,  some  magnesium  sulphate,  or 
"technical  epsom  salts,'  was  also  made  by  one  of  the  salt  i)lants  in  Ala- 
meda County.  This  was  sold  to  cotton  goods  manufacturers.  The 
chloride  sold  for  $20-$40  per  ton.  and  the  .sulphate  at  $80-$90  per  ton. 

The  1917  output  totaled  1064  tons,  valued  at  $34,973,  from  Alameda, 
Los  Angeles  and  San  Mateo  counties,  compared  with  851  tons  and 
$6,407  in  1916. 

Bitterns  made  at  plants  on  San  Francisco  Bay  carry  23  to  86  parts  of 
magnesium  per  thousand,  or  2.3%.  to  8.6%  magnesium. '= 


■■•U.  s.  Dept.  Agr.  Bur.  Soils,  Bull.   94.  p.   tlB,   i;u:i. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION.  109 

iletallio  magnesium  is  prepared  electrolytieall.y.  utilizing  generally 
an  electrolyte  of  magnesium  ehloride  and  an  alkaline  chloride.  Its 
I'onimonest  known  use  is  in  the  powdered  form  for  flashlights  in  photog- 
i-apliy.     Its  largest  recent  use  is  in  the  making  of  war  nuniitions.^''' 

It  does  not  enter  as  an  integral  part  into  the  explosives  nor  arms,  but 
small  (|uantities  are  put  in  shrapnel  shells,  that  ohserver.s  and  gunners 
may  know  exactly  where  the  shells  are  hursting.  By  day  the  burning 
magnesium  gives  a  dense  pure-white  cloud  of  magnesium  oxide,  and 
at  night  a  dazzling  white  light.  Larger  quantities  are  used  in  aerial 
iiombs  and  rockets  for  lighting  up  the  country  at  night.  [Magnesium 
has  as  yet  found  but  a  limited  direct  use  as  a  metal.  jMagnalium,  an 
i.lloy  of  aluminum  containing  about  2%  of  magnesium  and  small  per- 
ci'iitages  of  other  metals,  is  stated  to  be  used  in  automobiles  and  aero- 
planes. The  i)ossibilities  for  further  impor-tant  (It'Vcloi)ments  in  tliis 
liirection  are  promising. 

NITRATES. 
Bibliography:  Keport  XV.     Bulletin  24. 

Nitrates  of  sodium,  potassium  and  calcium  have  been  found  in  various 
jilaces  in  the  desert  regions  of  the  state,  but  no  deposit  of  commercial 
-ialue  has  been  developed  as  yet.  Interest  in  this  class  of  mineral  sub- 
.stance  is  increasing  and  closer  search  may  be  rewarded  by  workable 
discoveries.  At  present  the  principal  loiiimercial  source  of  nitrates 
i^  the  C'hilean  saltpeter  deposits  in  South  America. 

The  subject  of  the  fixation  of  atmospheric  nitrouvn  electrically  is 
occupying  a  place  in  the  public  mind  by  I'cason  of  its  success  in 
trermany  and  Scandinavia.  The  possibilities  of  cheap  hydroelectric 
power  in  California  make  the  subject  one  of  intense  interest  to  us,  as  we 
have  also  the  natural  raw  materials  and  chemicals  to  go  with  the  power. 
Sodium  and  potassium  cyanides  can  be  made  by  fixation  of  atmospheric 
nitrogen  electrically. 

POTASH. 

Bibliography:   Bulletin   24.     IT.   S.   G.   S.,   Min.   Res.   1913,   1914, 

1915.     Senate  Doc.  No.  190,  62d  Congress,  2d  Session.     Mining  & 

Sci.  Press,  Vol.  112,  p.  155 ;  Vol.  114,  p.  789. 

Potash  had  not,  previous  to  1914,  been  produced  commercially   in 

( 'alifornia.     Considerable   money   has  been   spent   in   the   preliminary 

work  incident  to  developing  deposits  of  potash-bearing  residues  anfl 

brines  in  the  old  lake  beds  of  the  desert  regions.     The  imports  of  potash 

salts  and  fertilizers  from  Germany  previous  to  the  European  war  had 

an  annual  value  of  several  millions  of  dollars,  and  their  cessation  has 

made  a  domestic  production  imperative. 


"U.  S.  G.  S.,  Min.  Res.  1915,  Pt.  I,  p.  740. 


11(1  MIXKHAI,    INDI'STHY    nh"    CAI  ,|pi  )HN  I  A. 

'I'll!'  iiiii'iiKil  |ii-i'-\\  ,-ir  pi'ic-c  III'  ^f;)l^)  to  $i((  per  t(ui  loi-  lii,t;h  u'l'iHlc  .■luri- 
(•iil1iii"il  s.-ilK  liiis  lici'ii  suciTcili'il  liy  lignrcs  (if  sr\'ei'iil  limes  lliiisi' 
i'liioiiiils :  uiilil  ill  Api'il.  lilKi.  I  lie  cliioridi'  \v;is  iiuiuiiinlly  (piolcd  iit 
^42')  per  toil  <iii<l  the  sulpluilc  fnini  $:ir)0  to  ^400  prr  ton.  The  iipprox- 
iiiiiitc  ;iV('r;ii;-i'  scliiiii;'  prirc  in  1!tl7  fit  point  of  .sliijinKJiit  for  potash 
iiKitri-iMJs  \v:is  i\>4.'2\i  ])('!•  unit,  i-orn'spondinji-  to  H^4-I(i  per  Ion  of  1(1(1% 
K,(). 

Diiiinii  r.HT  a  total  of  129,022  tons  of  potasli-liearing  material  was 
|ii-o(1mi-('i1  in  California,  valued  at  $4,202, <S8!).  This  is  a  several-fold 
ini-icase  over  the  191(1  out])iit.  It  is,  in  part,  refined  pota.ssium  ehloridt' 
and  sulphate,  kelp  ash  and  dried  kelp,  varying  in  potash  content  from 
SO'/;  K.O  for  the  refined  salts  down  to  14^>  in  the  dried  kelp;  in  part, 
icfincd  sul|)hate  and  treater  dust  from  several  of  the  cement  mills; 
and  in  part,  eoncentrated  salts  from  the  hrine  of  Searle.s  Lake.  Small 
ionnages  of  refined  sulphate  were  also  made  from  bitterns  at  two  of  the 
.salt  plants  on  San  Franriseo  Bay.  The  yield  from  Los  Angeles.  San 
Diego  and  Santa  i4;irl)ara  eounties  is  frcnii  the  operations  of  kelp  plants. 

'file  liulk  of  this  onti)ul  was  utilized  in  fertilizer  preparations;  but 
the  prrdiu-t  of  a1  least  one  of  the  kelp  plants  was  refined  to  the  form 
iif  the  nil  rati'  for  explosives  manufacture.  Some  potassium  iodide, 
also,  was  made,  experimentally,  and  a  eoinmereial  output  i-i  expected 
in   H)1S. 

The  large  ]ilant  of  tlie  Aiiieriean  Troua  Corporation  at  Trona,  on 
Seailes  I^ake,  San  Hernardino  County,  began  conunercial  operation  in 
September,  lOKi,  and  continued  in  1917  to  ship  crude  potash  .salts  to 
Eastern  fertilizer  works.  These  crude  salts  are  stated  to  be  nuide  up 
of  approximately  60%  potassium  chloride  and  W%  borax,  with  small 
amounts  of  other  eon.stituents.  A  second  jilant  at  Searles  Lake  has 
been  built  by  the  Solvay  Process  Company  and  began  commercial 
o])erations  in  1917. 

In  the  cement  mill  of  the  Riverside  Portland  Cement  Company,  the 
line  du.st  from  ball  and  tube  mills  is  collected  by  a  Cottrell  electrical 
i'ume  precipitator,  the  material  showing  an  approximately  11%.  potash 
content.  Some  sulphate  is  being  prepared  from  this,  but  the  bulk  of 
the  tonnage  .sold  go(>s  to  fertilizer  manufaetni'crs.  Otlier  cement  plants 
have  also  eomnieiieed  similar  recovery  of  potash. 


I 


STATISTICS    OF    AXXPAI.    I'lUlDICTlON. 


ii: 


Tlir   rdllowiiiL:   liiluilatidii   shdus   llic  ilislriliulimi   ol'   llic    11)1  i    ()ut|>ul 
(if  |i(il;isli   ill   ( "alil'iiriiia  : 


T,os   Aiiffclos   1.7U)  $400,902 

Siui   HiTiiiinlino  14.570  2.049,120 

Sail    Dii'tMi   .5,252  1.492,123 

Siiiila    I'-iirliara    971  126,8H(» 

Maiiii'da,  liii|ii'rial.   Kivcrsidc,  San  Mateo,  Santa  ('ru/.*._.  10(i,51G  133,914 


'r<,lal.-i 


129,022        $4,202,889 


•("iimliined  to  conceal  output  of  a  singrle'  operator  in  each. 

The  auinuil  aiinmnts  and  valm-s  of  tiicsc  potash  iiiaterials,  since  thcii- 
•si:inning  in  California,  are  .shown  by  the  foHowing  table: 


1914  

10 

1,076 

17,908 

129,022 

$460 

1915                         .                                            

19,391 

1916 

663,605 

l'l!7        ..       _..         ..                                            ..           

4,202,889 

Totals      - -                    -        -_        • 

148,016 

$4,886,345 

SALT. 

lUhliounipIn/:    State   .Mineralogist    Reports    II,    XII,    XIII,    XIV. 
Hiilletin   24. 
Most  of  the  salt  produced  in  California  is  obtained  by  evaporating 
the  waters  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  plants  being  located  on  the  .shores  of 


Salt   stacks  at  plant  of  Oliver   Chemical    Company,    Alameda   County 


112 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


San  Francisco  Bay,  at  Long  Beach,  and  on  San  Uiego  Bay.  Additional 
amounts  are  derived  from  lakes  and  lake  beds  in  the  desert  regions  of 
the  .state.  The  .salt  production  of  San  Bernardino  County  is  derived 
from  deposits  of  rock  salt  which  are  worked  by  means  of  quarrying  and 
steam  shovels.  A  .small  iinioimt  of  valuable  medicinal  salts  is  annually 
(>l)tained  in  ^louo  and  'reiiMiiia  eciunties,  liy  evaporation  from  mineral 
springs. 

Formerly  a  considerahle  piuportion  of  the  table  salt  consumed  in 
California  was  shipped  in  from  Eastern  points;  but,  at  present,  Cali- 
fornia salt  refineries  supply  not  only  our  own  markets  but  export  a  fair 
tonnage  to  other  states  and  to  Australia. 

The  1917  output  amounted  to  227.82:1  tons,  valued  at  !i!o84.373,  dis- 
tributed as  folldw.s,  bv  countias: 


CoUDljf  ,         Tons  VhIuo 

I I ^ 

.'Manioda    __.. 148.846  .$.315,970 

San  Diego   4,500  9,750 

San   JIatco   ;i6.i8.3  114,68!i 

Inyo,  Kern,  Los  Angolos,  Mono,  Monterey,  San  Bernar- 
dino,  Solano*  37,996  11:3,664 

Totals    __.. _ ...J        227,825  '        !f584,.'?73 

___J i 

♦r'nmliint-il   to  roiK-t*al  output  of  a  sinprlo  operator  in  each. 

The  ;il>ii\'e  ri'tiirns  show  an  ini'ivasc  in  both  tonnage  and  value. 
There  were  1:!  phints  o|)erating  in  Alameda,  three  in  S;in  Jlateo,  two 
in  San  Diego,  and  one  in  each  nl'  the  other  counties  tabulated,  a  total 
(if  ^iO  men  being  employed. 

Amount  and  value  of  annual  produetidu  of  salt  iu  California  from 
1887  to  date  is  shown  in  the  following  tabulation: 


Tear 

Tons 

Value 

Tear 

Ton3 

Value 

1887 _ 

28,000 

$112  000 

Il904 

95,968 

1 

i   $187,300 

1888 

30,800 

92,400 

1905 

77,118 

141,925 

1889 

21,000 

63.000 

1906 

101,650 

213,228 

1890 

8,729 

57,085 

1907 

88,063 

310,967 

1891 

20,094 

90,303 

1908 

121,764 

281,469 

1892 

23,570 

104,788 

1909 

155,680 

414,708 

1893 

50,500 

213,000 

1910 

174,920 

395,417 

1894 .. 

49.131 

140,087 

1911 

173,332 

324,255 

1895 ,.. 

53,031 

150,576 

1912 

185,721 

383,370 

1896 

64,743 

153.244 

1913 

204,407 

462,681 

1897 

67,851 

157,520 

1914 

223,806 

f83,553 

1898 .: 

93,421 

170,855 

1915 

169,028 

368,737 

1899 

82,654 

149,588 

1916 

186,148 

455.695 

1900 

89,338 

204,754 

1917 

227,825 

584.373 

1901 

126,218 

366,376 

1902 

115,208 

205,876 

Totals  

3,212,613 

$7,750,495 

1903 

102,895 

211,365 

STATISTICS 


AN".\r  Al.    I'IMDrcTIIlN'. 


T13 


SODA. 

BihlKHimphii :  i^tnte  Miiieralotrist  Reirorts  XII.  XIII,  XV.  BuUe- 
tin.s  24,  67. 

The  i)rodnc-tion  of  the  carbonates  and  .sulphate  of  sodiiuu.  in  Cali- 
fornia in  1917.  included:  both  the  bicarbonate  and  soda  ash  from  plants 
at  Owens  Lake;  a  natural  carbonate  from  Dorris.  Siskiyou  County  :  sul- 
phate fi\ni  the  natural  brines  at  Searles  Lake.  San  15i-i'nardino  County: 
ami  the  natural  sulphate  from  the  Carrizo  Plains.  San  Luis  Obispo 
County.  The  shiimients  from  San  Bei'nai'dino.  San  Luis  Obispo,  and 
Siskiyou  counties  were  tlie  Hr.st  I'ecorded  of  these  materials  from  those 
localities,  on  a  comiuen-ial  scale.  Tlie  total  toinuige  was  24..iO.'),  valued 
at  .'f^l)l'S.r)7S.  of  which  19.W)4  tons,  valued  at  ^Stil.TW).  came  from  the 
three  plants  in   Inyo  County. 

These  'sodas"  weie  used  in  the  manufacture  of  ghiss.  soaji,  and 
paper,  as  well  as  washing'  and  baking'  soda,  als{i  in  svigar  refining. 

The  war  has  stimulated  the  chemical  industry  in  the  I'liited  States 
to  produce  nuiterials  that  were  foi-mcrly  imported  and  to  supply  them 
to  foreign  countries,  as  well  as  to  devise  new  u.ses  for  chemical  [iroducts. 
also  to  rejilace  more  expensive  by  less  expensive  chemicals.  Sodium 
com|)()un(ls  have  iepla<'ed  |)otassiuni  coni|iiinnds,  either  wholly  or  in 
part,  in  glass  and  soap  making,  in  photography,  in  match  making,  in 
lanning.  and  in  tlu'  inanufactui-e  of  I'yanide  for  extracting  gold  and 
silver  from  their  ores. 

The  total  output,  showing  amount  and  value  of  these  materials  in 
California  since  the  inception  of  the  statistical  records  of  the  State 
Mining  Bureau,  is  given  in  the  table  which  follows : 


1894 1,530 

1895 1,900 

1896- 3,000 

1897 5,000 

1898 7,000 

1899 10,000 

1900 1,000 

1901 8,000 

1902 7,000 

1903 18,000 

1904 12,000 

1905  15,000 

1906 12,000 


$20,000 

1907  :.. 

47,500 

1908 

9,600 

$14,400 

65.000 

1909 

7,712 

11,593 

110,000 

1910 

8,125 

11,862 

154.000 

1911 

9,023 

52,887 

250,000 

1912 

7,200 

37,094 

50.000 

1913 :.— 

1,861 

24.936 

400,000 

1914 

6,522 

115.396 

50,000 

1915 

5,799 

83,485 

27  000 

1916         

10,593 

24,.W5 

264,825 

18,00C 

1917  

928  ."mS 

22,500 

18,000 

Totals  

192,370 

j2.777,(l."6 

114  MINERAL    IXIIT^STHY    ( iF    fAl.lFORNlA. 

CHAI'TI'R    SEVEN. 

MINERAL  PRODUCTION  OF  CALIFORNIA  BY  COUNTIES. 

Introductory. 

Thr  .statr  (if  Ciilifoi  iiiii  iiicliidcs  ;i  1(it;il  arm  of  158,1360  s({uai'('  miles 
(if  whicli  ].j"),9S{)  si|ii;iir  mile-;  nrc  of  hind.  Tlip  iiiaxinniin  widtli  is 
235  iiiilps,  the  iniiiiiiuiin.  14S  milrs;  and  the  li'ii^'tli  frdiii  tlir  noi'lliwest 
I'onicr  to  tlir  sDuthi'asl  cDiiicr  is  TT-'i  iniics.  The  .state  is  di\ided  iiitn 
tlfty-cijij-ht  eomities.  Suiin'  iiiiiierai  of  eonniiercial  value  exists  in  evei-y 
eounty,  and  during  1917  actixe  jiroduction  wits  reported  to  llic  State 
.Mining  Bureau  from  tifty-seven  eounties  of  the  fifty-eiglit.  In  1lie 
nii/untainous  portion.s  of  the  state  aie  found  the  vein-forming  miiu'rais, 
largcl.w  In  tlie  desert  regions  of  southeastern  California  aueieut  iai<i' 
lied.s  afford  supplies  of  saline  deposits.  Underlying  the  interioi-  \alh'y.s 
of  the  central  and  southern  ])ort!on  of  the  state  are  the  large  erude-oil 
rc.servoir.s.  Building  stones  and  mineral  earths  of  all  desei'iptions  are 
widely  distrihuted  thronghoni  the  length  and  lireadth  of  the  state. 

Of  the  fir.st  ten  eonnties  in  point  of  total  output  five  (Kern, -Orange, 
Fresno,  Los  Angeles,  Santa  Barhara)  owe  their  position  mainly  to 
petroleum.  Kern,  due  to  its  oil,  leads  all  the  others  hy  over  three  limes 
the  total  of  Orange,  its  nearest  competitor.  Shasta  owes  its  rank  to 
copper,  gold,  zinc  and  silver;  San  Bernardino,  its  place  on  account  of 
liuigsten,  i)otash,  cement,  ('.opi)er ;  Inyo,  nuiinly  to  borax,  lead  and  soda; 
j^nd  the  next  six  counties,  Amador,  Nevada,  Yuba.  Calaveras,  Plumas, 
Sacramento,  mainly  to  gold,  exeejit  Plumas  which  is  mainly  copper  and 
gold.  Twenty-.six  eonnties  have  each  a  total  in  excess  of  a  million  dol- 
lars, for  1917.     Cement  is  an  important  item  in  six  of  the.se  counties. 

In  point  of  variety  and  divei'sity,  San  Bei'nardino  County  leads  all 
the  others  with  a  total  of  25  different  mineral  products  on  its  commer- 
cial list;  followed  by  Inyo  with  17,  and  Shasta  and  Kern  with  16  each. 

The  countie-s  with  their  mineral  resources,  production  for  1916,  etc., 
are  considered  in  detail  in  this  chaptei-. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


115 


Value   of   California    Mineral    Production,    by   Counties,   for    1917,    Arranged 
Order  of  Their  Importance. 


County 


County 


!l. 
111. 
11. 
1-J. 
l.-f. 
14. 
l."i. 
IK. 
17. 
IS. 
19. 
111. 
•-'1. 
22 
■li. 
Jl. 

26. 
27. 
28. 
29. 


Koin    

Orange    

Fi-esno    

Sliastii    

r.os   Angeles   

San   Bernardino 

Inyo    _.- 

Saiilu    Barbara 

.Amador    

Nevada   

Ynha  

Calaveras    

Plumas   

Saeramento   

Solano    

San  Diego  

Santa   ('ruz   

Hiverside  

Tulare   

Ventura    

Napa    

Contra   Costa   _. 

San   Benito   

Alameda    

Butte    

Placer    

Santa  Clara  

Trinity   

Siskiyou  

Tuolumne    


$49. 
15, 
14, 
10, 

8. 


74.3,422 
231.626 
1,';8,052 
244.869 
204..523 
,407,742 
296.230 
153,081 
8.51,194 
,838,397 
721,996 
.717,150 
,294.886 
,286.6.56 
,899,231 
,71.3,708 
,668.324 
,.580,5.55 
.499.988 
,498,010 
,421,073 
,276,657 
,233,163 
,138,723 
,130,259 
,029,789 
991,530 
987,842 
829,409 
511,273 


Sonoma    $.506,7.50 

San  .Toaquin  470.220 

Sierra    .389.615 

Mariposa   .3.52.227 

San    l.iiis   Obispo 338,144 

Kl  Diirado  31.3,602 

Stanislaus    2,89,922 

Mariii   272.3f)2 

Madera    236,9.37 

Mono    218,772 

San  Mateo  207.163 

Lake   ..._  170,5.52 

Merced 147.116 

Monterey   138.786 

Imperial   129.400 

San  Francisco  107.957 

Del    Norte   104.340 

Glenn    65,272 

Humboldt    59,858 

Mendocino    50.415 

Tehama    44,019 

Colusa    16,321 

Yolo    5,561 

Sutter    5,000 

Kings   2,777 

Lassen  376 

Modoc    200 

Alpine    

1 

Total  I  $161,202,962 


ALAMEDA. 

Area:  843  .square  miles. 

Popidalion:  359,000  (e.stimate  by  ('hanil)er  of  Commerce,  1914). 
Alameda  County,  while  in  uo  sense  oue  of  the  'mining  counties," 
comes  twenty-fourth  on  the  list  with  a  value  of  mineral  products  for 
19i7  of  .$1,138,723,  an  increase  from  the  1916  total,  which  was 
.'}>1,094,723.  The  mineral  resources  of  this  county  include  asbestos, 
brick,  chromite,  clay,  coal,  limestone,  niagnesite,  manganese,  pyrite,  salt, 
soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substauce 

Amount 

Value 

Chromite       _    ._ _      _  _ 

52  tons 

$960 

Brick  and  tile- - -    __    _    - 

290,033 

Clay  (pottery) . .. 

6,502  tons 

1.211  tons 

148,846  tons 

4,524 

^langan'ese       ..  -    __      

:30,250 

Salt        -■      — 

315,970 

Stone,  miscellaneous 

413,845 

other  minerals*      ._                                    _ 

83,141 

Total  value 

$1,138,723 

•Includes  lime,  limestone,  magnesite,  magnesium  salts,  potash  and  pyrite. 


116 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CAMKORNIA. 


ALPINE. 

Area:  776  .squaru  miles. 
Population:  309  (1910  cen.sus). 

Alpine  has  in  the  pa.st  .shown  a  small  production  of  s'old  and  silver, 
but  dropped  out  of  the  list  of  produeini;-  eounties  in  1914. 

This  county  lies  .just  south  of  Lake  Tahoe,  in  the  high  .Sierra  Nevada 
range  of  mountains.  Tran.sportation  is  by  wagon  or  mule  back,  and 
facilities  in  general  ai'e  lacking  to  pi'omntc  develnpmcnt  work  of  any 
kind. 

The  mineral  resources  of  tliis  section  are  varied  and  the  country  has 
not  yet  been  tiioroughly  prospected.  Occuri'ences  of  barium,  copper, 
gold,  iiypsnm,  lead,  limestone,  pyritc,  rose  ipiartz,  silver,  touiunaline, 
and  ziiir  have  iiccn  noted  liere. 


AMADOR. 

Arra  :  (iOl    scpiare   miles. 

J'tipiilaliiiii:  n.OdO   (estimate  by  Ccunty  Clerk.  1!)14). 

The  value  of  Amador  County's  mineral  production  incrcasedslightly 
from  !l!;iSll,428.  in  lilKi.  to  .+:-!.,S.">l,194.  Iiut  retaining  ninth  place  on 
t  be  list  of  counties  in  tbr  state  as  regards  total  \alue  ol'  mineral  siib- 
.■^tances  mai'keted. 

Although  having  an  output  consisting  of  14  different  minerals,  the 
leading  product,  gold,  makes  ui)  over  95%  of  the  entire  total.  Amador 
led  the  state  in  gold  production  in  191.^).  but  was  slightly  exceeded  in 
1917  by  Nevada  and  Yuba  counties. 

The  mineral  re.sourees  of  this  county  include  asbestos,  brick,  chromite, 
clay,  coal,  copper,  gold,  lime,  quartz  crystals,  gla.ss-sand,  sandstone, 
silver,  soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Chromite   _ 1. 65  tons  .$1,420 

Biick  and  tile 9."),345 

Clay  (pottery)  28,970  tons  28,625 

Cornier  19„^52  lbs.  5,28.S 

Gold    _ .3,664,164 

Silica    ;        4,771  tons  20,766 

Silver   _ 21,358 

Stdue,  iiii.scellaneous 1,200 

otiicr  minerals*  13,033 

Total   value  $3,851,194 

•Includes  coal,  lead,  manganese,  platinum,  soapstone,  and  zinc. 


STATISTICS    OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


117 


BUTTE. 

Area  :  1 ,722  s(|iiare  miles. 

Population  :  81.000  (estimate  by  Cliaiiiher  of  C'oiimicrce,  191-4). 
Location :  North  central  portion  of  state. 
Butte,  twenty-fiftli  cmiuty  in  California  in  regard  to  the  value  of 
its  mineral  outjiut.  reported  a  eommereial  production  of  eleven  mineral 
snhstances;  havinu  a  total  value  of  !};l,130,2o9  as  compared  with 
•i<]. 856, 925  for  191(j,  the  decrease  being  due  to  gold.  As  will  be  noted 
in  the  following  tabulation,  gold  is  by  far  the  most  important  item, 
liutte  stands  si.xth  among  the  gold-prodiu'ing  counties  of  the  state. 
Among  the  mineral  resources  of  this  section  are  asbestos,  barytes, 
chromite,  gems,  gold,  limestone,  marble,  mineral  water,  platinum  min- 
erals, silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Subbtaiice 

Aiiii'unt 

ViiUlo 

Chromite  

5,746  tons 

$104,085 
125 

Gems - 

Golfl --_ __      

922  271 

Lead       ..     

378  lbs. 
3,.50O  gals. 
119  ounces 

32 

1  450 

Platinum      ._    -_      __    

9  106 

Silver      --                                  

2  991 

Stone,  miseellaneous 

89,870 

other  minerals* 

329 

Tot  a  1    Vii  I  lie 

$1,130.2.59 

•Includes  copper,   manganese,  and  natural  gas. 


CALAVERAS. 

Ana:  1.027  square  miles. 

Population:  9,171   (1910  cen.sus). 

Location  :  p]ast  central  portion  of  state — Mother  Lode  district. 
Cidaveras  County  reported  production  of  18  different  minerals, 
valued  at  !|!8.717,150,  during  the  year  1917.  as  compared  with  the  1916 
output  worth  .$2,965,592.  Gold,  copper  and  silver  are  the  chief  mineral 
substances  produced.  In  regard  to  total  value  of  mineral  output  Cal- 
averas .stands  twelfth  among  the  countifts  of  the  .state;  it  is  tifth  in 
gold,  second  in  coppei',  ami  third  in  silver.  The  increase  in  1917  was 
due  mainl.y  to  copper. 

The  principal  mincrMJ  resources  developed  and  undeveloped  are: 
.\sl)estos,  barytes.  chroiiiite,  clay,  cojijier,  fuller's  earth,  gold,  grajihite, 
limestone,  magnesite,  iiiarbh',  mineral  [laint,  mineral  water,  platinum 
minerals,  pyrite,  (|uartz  crystals,  silver,  soapstone,  and  miscellaneous 
stone. 


118  MINERAL  INDUSTRY  OF  CALIFORNIA. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows : 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Chromitp  _.     _  

1,613  tons 
7,720,861  lbs. 

.$34,245 

2,107,79.5 

1.471,442 

5,50 

f^oppcr _ 

Gold 

Lead    ..    -.. 

6395  lbs. 
16,985  gals. 
20  ounces. 

^lineral  water 

7,009 

1,433 

87,984 

riiitininii   ._ . _. 

Silver   .. .    .        _ 

Slone,  miscellaneous 

3,700 

other  minerals*  . 

3,992 

Total  value  

$3,717,150 

*InclvHles  clny-pottory,  fuller's  earth,  mineral  paint,  silica,  and  zinc. 

COLUSA. 

Area:  1.140  square  miles. 

ropulation:  7,882  (estimate  b\-  Chamber  of  Commerce,  1914). 

Location:  Sacramento  Valley. 
Colusa  County  lies  largely  in  the  basin  of  the  Sacramento  Valley. 
Its  western  border,  however,  rises  into  the  foothills  of  the  Coast  Range 
of  mountains,  and  its  mineral  resources — largely  undeveloped — include 
coal,  chromite,  copper,  gypsum,  manganese,  mineral  water,  pyrite, 
(juiclisilver,  sandstone,  miscellaneous  .stone,  sulphur,  and  in  some  places 
traces  of  gold  and  silver. 

The  value  of  the  1917  production  was  $16,321,  a  decrease  from  the 
1916  figures  of  $42,803,  giving  it  fifty-second  place. 


Substance 

Amount 

Vnlue 

Sloiio    iniscellcineous                              _        _ 

$6U0 

15.721 

$16,321 

I 


•Includes  mineral  paint,  and  mineral  water. 

CONTRA  COSTA. 

Area:  714  square  miles. 

Population  :  .52.500  (estimate  by  Chamber  of  Commerce,  1914). 
('ontra  Costa,  like  Alameda  Cuiiiity,  lies  on  the  eastern  shores  of  San 
Francisco  Bay.  and  is  not  connnonly  considered  among  the  mineral- 
producing  counties  of  the  state.  It  stands  seventeenth  on  the  list  Tn 
this  respect,  however,  with  an  output  valued  at  $1,276,657  for  the  calen- 
dar year  1917.     Various  structural  materials  make  up  the  chief  items. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL    PRODUCTION. 


119 


iiU'ludiug  briL-k,  cement,  linie.stoiie,  and  iiiiseellaneou.s  stoue.  Among 
llie  others  are  a.sliesto.s.  clay.  coal,  gyp.siini.  manganese,  mineral  watei- 
and  soapstone. 

Commercial  produi'tiun   for  lOlT  was  as  follows: 


Hrick  and  tile 

$172,653 

8,363 
322,507 

^linoi'iil  water 

436,265  gals. 

stone,  niiscellanooiis  ..    ..    ..  _..    .        _..      _._ 

other  niineral-s*   .-        ..      .  .. 

772,934 

'J'dtal  value -. 

$1,276,657 

♦Iiu'liKles  cement   and  coal. 

DEL  NORTE. 

Area:  1,024  square  miles. 
Population:  2.417  (1910  census). 
Locafiiin  :  Extreme  northwest  corner  of  state. 

Transportation:  Wagon  and  mule  hack ;  steamer  from  Crescent 
Cit>-. 
Del  Norte  rivals  Alpine  County  in  regard  to  inaccessibility.  Like 
the  latter  county  also,  given  transportation  and  kindred  facilities,  this 
portion  of  the  state  presents  a  wide  field  for  development  along  mining 
lines  especially.  Its  chief  mineral  resources,  largely  untouched,  are 
chroniite,  copper,  gems,  gold,  graphite,  iron,  platinum  minerals,  silver, 
.■md  miscellaneous  stone.  The  increase  in  1917  over  the  1916  figure  of 
$2,432  was  due  to  chroniite. 

Commercial  production  for  1917.  giving  it  forty -seventh  place,  was 
as  follows : 


Clti'itniitc 

.1,275  tonp 

$37,255 
1  373 

Hold _ 

l^latiniiin     ..     _ ._ 

10  ounces 

8.5;i 

Silver   .._ 

s 

Stone,  iniseellaneons      , .  _ _. 

2,70n 

1 'ther  minorals      _  _  ...      ... _ 

2,151 

Total  value         ...       _  .,_   _   ._ 

$104,340 

120 


MINERAL    INDU!^TKV    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


EL  DORADO. 

Alia:   l.T.")!^  s(|U;ii-c   miles. 

I'lijiiddl iini  :  S.Dlii;    ( ('Ntiiii;it<>   liv   ('(iiinl\-   Clrrk.    IDH). 
LdCdlidli:    KnsI    c-('llll;il    portidli    of   Ihc   st;i1i';    iHirtllrriMlHisI    nf   llii' 
.MiilhiT    Ijdilc   iMiimtii's. 
]•]!   T^oViidi)   ('iiniity.   w  liidi   cniitaiiis  Ihc   locality   w  lii'i'c  jidlil    in   (';ili- 
t'di'iiia  was  first  hcraidcci  tn  tlir  woi'ld.  (•(iiiies  tliirty-si.xtli  on  the  list  of 
couiitios  raiiki'd  ai'cordiiit;'  to  tiir  xaluc  of  their  total  mineral  production 
(luring  the  year  11117.      In  ;idditi(in  to  the  segrefjated  figures  here  given, 
a  large  tonnage  of  limestone  is  annually  shipped  from  El  Dorado  for 
use  in  cement   manufaefnre,  and  whose  value  is  inehuled  in  the  state 
Iota!  foi'  cenu'iit.     The  output  of  cliromite  showed  an  important  increase 
for   1!)17. 

The  mineral  resoni'ccs  of  this  section,  many  of  them  undev'i'loped, 
include  asheslos.  harytes.  chi-omite.  clay,  copper,  gems,  gold,  iron, 
mol\hdenum.  limestone,  cpiartz  crystals.  i|uicksil\er.  glass-sand,  slate, 
.soap.stoiie.   silver  and   miscellaneous  stone. 

(•ommerci;d  production  for  1!M7  was  as  follows: 


Clu'olllilr    

'  '(i)ipcl- 

(iold . 

Lime  ioi<l  liiiicstone. 

Silicii    

Silver  

Stone,  miscellaneous 
Otiicr  mincral.s 


Total   value 


s.nni  Inns 
I8.S)82  ll).s. 


2,684  tons 


.fUi7.:».'i() 

r,M<2 

21,7.W 

l(ll.8.'il 

i.rm 

S."i 

().2(NI 

7U 

,1vJ13,6(l2 


FRESNO. 

yinil:  .").f).")(l  s(|uai'e  miles. 

I'djiidalloii  :  ]2(M"II'   (estimale  hy  Hoaixl  of  Supervisors,  l!l]4). 

Lucaiiun  -.  South  central  portion  of  st;ite. 
Fresno  County,  third  in  iini)0i'tanee  as  a  mineral  })roducer  among  the 
counties  of  California,  reported  an  output  for  1017  of  thirteen  miin^i-al 
substances,  with  a  total  value  of  >|il-l. 1.38, 052.  an  increase  over  the 
reported  lOlti  production,  whieli  was  worth  $8.061. 19.'i  The  great 
iiulk  of  the  ahove  value  is  di'rived  from  the  petr'olenm  production  of 
the  Coaliuga  field.  In  1(117.  in  company  with  Orange  County.  Fresno 
[.lassed  Shasta  Counly.  whi<'h  had  previously  exc(^eiled  all  others  exeept 
Kern . 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


121 


TliL'  mineral  i-esources  of  this  t-ouiity  arc  many.  and.  aside  from  crude 
(lii.  arc  not  yet  fully  developed.  They  include  asbestos,  barytes,  bi'ick. 
ihriimitc,  co|iper.  gems.  gold,  graphite,  gy[).suni.  ii-ou.  magnesite.  natural 
lias,  petroleum,  ipiicksilver,  silver,  auil  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  iirodiietion  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Chroiiiito   6,289  tons 

Copper 40,662  lbs. 

Gold    

Granite   I 

Magnesite    I  6,077  tons 

Natural  gas  !    4,097,626  M  cu.  ft. 

Petroleum    I  16,259,797  bbls. 

Silver | 

Stone,  miscollaneous  

Other  mincral.s* 

Tdtiil   value  


$109,292 

11,101 

5,745 

31,500 

57,422 

347,501 

13,414,333 

289 

1-36,719 

44,150 


.$14,1.58,0.52 


1  iii'lii(l','.>i  asbestos,  bi'it'k,  mineral  watsr  ami  quicksilver. 


GLENN. 

Ana:  1,259  siiuare  miles. 
I'opiilfifioii :  7.172   (1910  census). 

(rlenn  County,  standinj^'  forty-eiglith.  owes  its  position  among  the 
minei'al-producing  counties  of  the  state  mainly  to  the  presence  of  large 
deposits  of  sand  and  gravel  which  are  annually  worked,  the  product 
being  used  for  railroad  ballast,  etc.  In  1917,  chromite  was  also  an 
important  item.  In  the  foothills  in  the  western  portion  of  the  county, 
deposits  of  chromite,  copper,  nuuiganese.  sandstone,  and  soapstoue  have 
been  found. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

(  'lilWfiilitt' 

S79  tons 
369  tons 

$21,474 

MciIiyillU'SC          _            __                                     _-            - 

9,721 

Stone,  inisccllaneous 

33,260 

*  It  iii'i"  iniiicriils             -.  -     -- 

817 

Total   viiliu' 

$65,272 

■ 

122 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 


HUMBOLDT. 

Area :  3,63-1  sqiiaiL'  miles. 

Population:  37,500  (estimate  l)y  ClKiinber  of  Commerce,  1914). 
Locaiion  -.    Nortlnve.stcrn    ])oi'ti(iii    of    state,    bordering    on    Paeitif 
Ocean. 
Humboldt    County    is    alnid.st    entirely    luountainuus.    tran.sportation 
within  its  limits  being  very  largely  h\-  wagon  road  and  trail,  and  until 
I'eeent  years   was   reached   from   the   outside   world   by  .steamer   only. 
The    county    is    rich    in    mineral    resources,    among    which    are    brick, 
ehromite,  coal,  clay,  copper,   gold,   iron,  mineral  water,  natural  ga.s, 
jietroleum,  platinum,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Nine  mineral  substances,  as  shown  by  the  table  given  below,  having 
a  total  value  of  .$50,808,  were  produced  in  1917,  as  compared  with  the 
1916  output,  worth  !|>27-4,895,  the  decrease  being  due  to  the  smaller 
amount  of  stone  being  used  on  the  Eiu'cka  Harbor  breakwater.  Hum- 
boldt ranks  forty-ninth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  for  the  year. 
Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

(iold     _. 

$23,08fi 
3.51 

Platinum    .-    __    __    .-           __    _ 

6  ounces 

Silver —    .. 

95 

Stour,  miscellaneous 

27,014 
9,312 

otiior   iniiieraLs* : 

Totiil   viiluc        _          

$59,8.58 

•Incliulcs  brirk.  cla>-.  mineral  water,   natural  ga.s.  and  volcanic  ash. 


IMPERIAL. 

Ar<(i:  4.089  square  miles. 

Population  :  50,000  (estimate  by  Chamber  of  Coimiicrcc.  1914). 

Location  -.  Extreme  southeast  corner  of  the  state. 
During  1917  Imperial  County  produced  eight  mineral  substances 
liMving  a  total  value  of  $129,400,  as  compared  with  the  1916  output, 
worth  $105,333.  Its  rank  is  fort.v-fifth.  This  county  contains  deposits 
of  gold,  gypsum,  lead,  marble,  piuuice,  salt,  silver,  and  strontium,  largel.v 
undeveloped. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 

Commercial  production  for  1!)17  was  as  follows: 


123 


Brick  and  tile— j 

Gold    

Manganese    

Silver   

Stone,    miscellaneous 
Other  minerals*  


Total  value 


1,907  tons 


$19,260 

919 

38,140 

5 

65,660 

5,416 


$129,400 


•Includes  copper,  potash,  and  pumice. 


INYO. 

Area :  10,019  .s(iuare  miles. 

Population :  7,500  (estimate  by  Chamber  of  Commerce,  1914). 
Locafioi) :  Lies  on  eastern  border  of  .state,  north  of  San  Bernar- 
dino County. 

Inyo,  the  second  largest  county  in  the  state,  and  containing,''  le.ss  than 
one  inhabitant  per  .S()uarc  mile,  is  extremely  interesting  from  a  mineral- 
ogieal  point  of  view.  It  is  noted  because  of  the  fact  that  within  its 
borders  are  located  both  the  highest  point,  ilount  Whitney  (elevation 
14,502  feet),  and  the  lowest  point,  Death  Valley  (elevation  290  feet 
below  sea  level),  in  the  T'nited  States.  In  the  higher  mountainous 
sections  are  found  many  vein-foi-ming  minerals,  and  in  the  lake  beds 
of  Death  Valley  saline  deposits  exist. 

Inyo's  mineral  production  during  the  year  1917  reached  a  value  of 
$'6,296,230,  standing  seventh  among  the  counties  of  the  state  in  this 
re.spect.  The  1916  value  was  s|<4. 600.090.  the  increa.se  being  due  to  lead, 
borax,  silver,  tungsten  and  soda.  Its  mineral  resources  include  anti- 
mony, asbestos,  barytes,  bismuth,  borax,  copper,  gems,  gold,  gypsum, 
lead,  magiiesitc.  marble,  molybdenum,  mineral  water,  nitre,  platinum, 
pumice,  quicksilver,  salt,  silver,  soda,  sulphur,  tale,  tung.sten,  and  zinc. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Copper  .. 
Dolomite 
Gold 


175,273  lbs. 
11,315  tons 


Lead    . 19,318,642  lbs. 

Tale  4,736  tons 

Soda    19,604  tons 

Silver   


Stone,  miscellaneous 

Zinc   - 

Other  minerals* 


Total  value 


3,525,004  lbs. 


$47,850 

22,630 

125,394 

1,661,403 

41.044 

861,160 

534,599 

3,000 

359,550 

2,639,600 


$6,296,230 


•Includes  asbestos,   barytes,  borax,  gypsum,  marble,   molybdenum,  salt,  and  tung- 
.sten concentrates. 


124 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


I 


KERN. 

Ar(  II  :   S.dOU   si|nill'('   miles. 

r(i/iiiltili(iii  :  .">ll. (1(1(1   I  I'stimalc  liv    lidjird  iiT  Suprrvisors) . 

IjiHdtiini  :  South  i-ciilr;il  portiiiii  iiT  s1;itc. 
Kern  ('(unity.  Ikm-jiusi'  of  its  iinincnsc.  in'odiictivc  oil  fields,  stands 
|ire-eniiiient  unions'  mII  ronnties  of  ('Mlifornia  in  the  vainer  of  its  min- 
eral ontpnt.  the  exact  lijiures  foi-  11)17  beinu'  .$4l),7-t:i,422.  This  is 
iarji-er  by  more  than  thirty-foni-  million  dollars  than  the  suceeeding 
coiuity  on  the  list.  This  tifiure  also  is  nearly  2J  times  the  value  of  the 
total  gold  onti)ut  of  the  entire  state  for  1!)17.  The  l!)l(i  mineral  ontpnt 
for  Kern  County  was  worth  $87,826,907.  The  great  increase  was  due 
to  the  enhaneed  prices  for  crude  oil  of  all  grades. 

Among  the  mineral  resources,  developed  and  undeveloped,  of  this 
section  are:  Antimon.w  asbestos,  asphalt.  l)ai'ytes.  borax,  brick,  clay, 
c()|)])er.  fuller's  eai'th.  gems,  gold,  gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limi'stone,  mag- 
nesite.  mai'ble.  minei'al  paint,  natural  gas,  pctroleniii.  potash,  salt,  sih-er, 
soa|>Ntiine,  soda,  .sulphur,  and  tungsten. 

Conunercial  production   for  1917  was  as  I'ollows: 


.Viitimoii.v    

Brick  iind  tilp 

Copper  

Gold     

Lend    

Natural  gas  

Pctroleuai   

Quicksilver  .._ 

Silver   __. 

Stoiio,  iiiiseollaneous  -.. 
Tungsten  concentrates 
Other  minerals* 


Total  value 


Amount 


113  tons 
2.51,22.5  lbs. 


9,6&I  lbs. 
25,819,.376  M  cu.  f 
.53,06.5,066  bbls. 
300  flasks 


49  tons 


$16,041 
22,785 
68,584 

.537,8.52 
833 

,44.5.880 

,387,104 

27,250 

7,813 

31,787 

.58,148 

139,345 


$49,743,422 


•Includes  clay.   feld-'^P'O-,   lime,   limestone,  masnesite.  and  salt. 


KINGS. 

Area:  1,159  .S(iuare  miles. 

Popitlatioii :  23,500   (e.stimate  by  C'liaml)er  of  Commerce,  1914), 

Location  :  South-central  portion  of  the  state. 
Little  development   has  taken   place  in  Kings  County  along  mineral 
lines  to  date.     Dejaisits  of  fuller's  earth,  .eypsum.  mineral  paint,  natu- 
ral gas,  and  (piick'sil\-er.  of  undetermined   extent,  have  been   found  in 
llie  countx'.      Some  drilling   for  oil    has   been   luider  wav. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNl'Al,    I'lfonrC'TION.  125 

111  tifty-tifth  place,  commeivial  productioii  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

3,569  M  cu.  ft. 

$2,777 

LAKE. 
Area:  1.278  .square  miles. 

Population  :  5,600  (estimate  by  Cliauilicr  of  toiiiiiieree.  1914). 
Location:  About  fifty  miles  imrtb  of  San  Francisco  Bay  ami  the 
same  distance   iulanil   fnim   the   i'aeifie   Ocean. 
On  account  of  its  topograiiliy  ami  natural  beauties.  Lake  County  is 
sometimes   referred   to   as   the    Switzerland    of    America.      Tile    mineral 
resources   which   exist   here   are    many    ;iml    varied,   actual   production 
being  comparatively  small,  as  shown  l)\-  llie  table  below,  and  composed 
mainly  of  quieksilvei'.  chromite  and  mineral  water.     Some  of  the  lead- 
ing minerals  found   in   this  section,   in    pari    as  yet   undeveloped,   are 
borax,    chromite.    clay,    coiqier.    o'eiiis,    j;iild,    jiypsuin,    mineral    water, 
(piick.silver,  silver,  and  sulphur. 

In  forty-second  place,  commercial  prudiiction  for  1917  was  a.s  follow.s: 


Chromite                _                   -.                 

1,466  tons 
a5  tons 
129,1.57  gallons 
1,067  flasks 

$36,326 

1,900 

22.685 

107,071 

Stone     miscellaneous 

2,500 

Other  minerals 

70 

Total   value 

$170,552 

LASSEN. 
Area :  4.531  square  miles. 

Popiilafiou:  7,000   (estimate  by   Cnuiity  Clerk.  1914). 
Location  :  Xortlieast  iiortioii  of  state. 
Lassen   County    is  one  of  the  little  explored  sections  of  California. 
Since  about    1912   a    railroad   traversing   the   i-ouiity   north   and   .south 
has  been  in  operation,  thus  affording  (ipporluiiit.N'  for  ilex'elupmciit  along 
mineral  and  other  lines. 

Among  the  mineral  resources  of  this  county  are  copper,  gems,  gyji- 
sum.  gold,  silver,  and  sulphur.  In  the  past,  some  gold  has  been  pro- 
duced, but  not  iluring  the  last  two  or  three  years. 

In  fifty -sixth  place,  commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Stone,  miscellaneous 

$376 

1 

\2(^  MINERAI.    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

LOS  ANGELES. 

Artd:  4.0(j7   squai-i'   uiilcs. 

J'opKlalioii:  HOO.OOO  (estiiiiaU-  l)y  ("hainbcT  of  Ooumierue,  1913). 

^liiicral  pi-odui-tidii  in  ].,os  Angeles  t'oiiiity  for  tlu>  yfnv  1017 
.iiiiounlc'd  ill  \alu('  to  $.S,2(l4.r)2.'?.  as  compared  with  the  191(j  output, 
worth  $4.4<io,r)2H.  Tiii.s  ('oiiiity  I'aiiked  fifth  in  the  state  as  a  mineral 
|vriiducrr  ill  1IM7.  tiir  advaiu'c  liciii^  due  to  llie  lartic  iiicri-asc  in  Hk; 
pell'dleliiii   valuation. 

If.s  output  of  hriek  and  tile  was  iieari\-  a  iiiijiinii  doUars,  and  liial  <t\' 
petroleum  amounted  to  over  live  niillion  dollars.  Amoiiir  its  miiierai 
nsouree.s  may  he  noted  asjihalt.  baryte.s.  borax,  brick,  elay,  fulha-'.s 
(  arth,  t;eiiis,  gold,  gyiisuin,  infusorial  earth,  liinestoni',  marble,  mineral 
paint,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  petroleum,  salt,  glass-.sand,  sand- 
stone, ,seri)entiii(\  silver,  soa]>-itone,  and  miscellaneous  stone.  Some 
potasli  is  ohtaiiii'd  from  kelp. 

Commercial   production  for   lin7  was  as  follows: 


Brick  and  tile j .$9.39,081 

Clay— pottery  I         6,276  tons  10.321 

Oems   I '  30O 

-Mineral  water 188,368  gallons  16,902 

Natural  gas  1,670,476  M  cu.  ft.  194,793 

Petroleum  1,669,583  bbls.  5,491,430 

Pota.sh  1.710  tons  400,902 

Stone,  miscellaneous 608,026 

Other  mineral-s* 542,768 

Total  value  '      $8,204,523 

•Includes  borax,  graphite,   magnesium  chloride,   salt,   silica,   seipentine  and  talc. 

MADERA, 

Area:  2,112  square  miles. 

Population  :  12,000  (estimate  by  Chamber  of  Commerce,  1914). 

Location :  East-central  portion  of  state, 
^ladera   Coiint.y   produced  six  mineral   .substances   during   the  year 
lf)17,  having  a  total  value  of  $236,937,  as  compared  with  the  1916  out- 
l)ut,  worth  .i>222,758.     This  county  contains  deposits  of  copper,   gold, 
iron,  lead,  molybdennin,  jHuniee,  silver  and  building  stone. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNTAI.    PRODUCTION.  127 

111   thii-1y-iiintli    [iIhi-i',   LMiiiinitirrial   jji'diiiu'l  ion    for   IHIT   was  as   fol- 
lows : 


Copper  372,123  lbs.  $101,590 

Gold    1&914 

Granite    114,400 

Lead    221  lbs.  19 

Silver   __ 489 

.Stdiii',  iiilsfelliUKMius  1,525 


Total   value $236,937 


MARIN. 

.Irid:  ."i'J'.l  si|iiarc  miles. 

J'dlHtliil iuit  :  2S.4(K)  (estiiiialc  hy  ("liainhcr  of  ('oiiiiiicree.  1914'!. 
Loralidii  :  Adjoins  San  Fraiu-iseo  on  the  north. 
Mineral  prodiu-tion  in  ilarin  County  durino;  the  year  1917  readied 
a  value  of  •+272.:i02.  as  eonipan-d  to  tlu'  IIIKI  output,  worth  .i^nS.^IKi. 
This  eoiiiity  is  not  espeeially  prolific  in  niiiu'rals,  although  among  its 
I'e.sonrees  alinig  these  lines  are  hriek.  gems,  manganese,  mineral  walei', 
soapstone.  and  miseellaneous  .stone. 

in  thirty-eighth  place,  eommereial  produetion  for  1917  was: 

Substance  j  .Amount  Value 

.Stone,  miscellaneous $158,582 

Other  minerals* 113,720 

Total  value  $272,302 

•Inoludes  brick  and  mineral  water. 

MARIPOSA. 

Area:  1,463  square  miles. 
Fopulatioii:  3,956   (1910  census). 

Location:  ]Mo.st  southerly  of  tlie  ^fother  I..ode  eonnties.  East- 
central  portion  of  state, 
ifariposa  County  is  one  of  the  distinctly  'mining'  eonnties  of  the 
state,  although  it  .stands  but  thirty -fourth  on  the  list  of  counties  in 
regard  to  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1917,  with  a  total  of 
!ti852,227,  as  compared  with  the  1916  figures  of  $487,971.  The  decrease 
is  due  to  gold. 

Its  mineral  resources  are  varied;  among  the  more  important  item.s 
being  baryfes.  copper,  gems.  uold.  lead,  marble,  silver,  slate,  soap.stone, 
and    miseellaneous   stone. 


128  MINERAL  INDUSTRY  OK  CALIFORNIA. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  a.s  follows: 


Copper    

53,381  lbs. 

$14,583 

Gold .. 

313,296 

Lead 

1.075  lbs. 

92 

Silver 

3,221 

Stone,  miscellaneous 

7,646 

Other  minerals 

13,399 

^rotal   value 

$352,237 

MENDOCINO. 

Aira:  8,453  .s(|Uiirc  miles. 

l'oj)itlalion  :  27.<l<tO  lestiiiiMte  li\'  ('h;iinhi-i-  of  Commt'i^'c.  lOl-l:). 
Locatiwi  :  Joins  Iliiiiilinldt  Coiiiity  on  the  sdutli  luid  ininiidcd  liy  liii' 
Pacific  Ocean  on  tlic  wcsl. 
Jleiidociiiu's   annual    mineral    production    is  .snuili.    tiic    lillT   output 
being  valued  at  $.')().415.  raniviufr  it  fiftieth  anu>n.!i-  the  counties.     Tiiat 
of  191K  was  wortii  $.").">. (iKO,     Tjie  principal  item  is  nianu:anese. 

Deposits  of  nn(h'terniirie(i   \aluc.  ol'  asiiestos.  ehroniite.  coal,   copper, 
jii'aphitc.    iiiannesite.    ;iiid    mineral    water   have    bi'cn    I'ound.    a.s    well    as 
traces  of  lioid  and  .silver.      Vi<i  the  eiiiainji'  vear  tiu're  are  jiood  prospects 
for  a  continued  couimercial   \iclil  of  manganese  ore. 
Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Manganese .         ..         _ 

1,541  tons 

$40,515 
5,600 

Stone,  miscellaneous .. 

Other  minerals* 

4,300 

Total    value   

$50,415 

•Includes  chromite,  brick  and  magnesite. 

MERCED. 

An  (I  :   1,99'>  s(|Uar<'   niiles. 

I'djxdalliiii  :  2(1.0110  (estimate  li\-  ('handier  of  ('onimeree.  191-t). 

Locatio)!:  About  the  geographical  center  of  the  state. 
iMerced  County  as  a  whole  lies  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  aiul  it 
figures  as  one  of  the  lesser  mineral-producing  (counties  of  the  state. 
The  1917  mineral  out[)ut  was  valued  at  !i'147,n().  The  increase  over 
the  value  of  $81,530  in  1916  was  due  to  crushed  rock  and  gravel.  Gold, 
platinum  and  silver,  obtained  by  dredging,  are  among  the  important 
items.  Undeveloped  deposits  of  antimony,  magnesite,  quicksilver,  and 
limestone  have  been  noted  in  this  eountv  in  addition  to  the  foregoing. 


STATISTICS  OF   ANNUAL  PRODUCTION. 


129 


In   forty-tliird    place,    c-oiimieivial    production   during    1917    was   as 
follows : 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

.Stone,  miscfllaneous  

$70,500 

Other  minerals*  

76,616 

Total  value  

$147,116 

•Includes  sold,  platinum  and  silver. 

MODOC. 

Area:  3,823  square  miles. 
Population:  6,191    (1910  ceu.>ius). 
Location :  Tlie  extreme  northeast  corner  oE  the  state. 
Modoc  County,  like  La.ssen,  has  only  recently  had  the  benefit  of 
communication   with   the   outside   world   by    rail.     Among   its   known 
mineral   resources   are :    Clay,   coal,   gold,   iron,   quicksilver,   salt,   and 
silver. 

In  fifty -seventh  place,  commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows : 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Stone,  miscellanoous  .-                            -  _ 

$200 

MONO. 

Area:  3,030  square  miles. 

I'opulalioi, :  2,100  (estimate  by  County  Clerk,  1914). 
Locution  :  Is  bordered  b\-  tlie  .state  of  Nevada  on  the  east  and  is 
about  in  the  central  portion  of  the  .state  mea.sured  on  a  north 
and  south  line. 
Gold  mining  has  been  carried  on  in  portions  of  jMono  County  for 
many  years,  although  taken  as  a  whole  it  lies  in  a  rather  inaccessible 
country  and  has  been  but  superficially  explored.     It  is  in  the  continu- 
ation of  the  highly  mineralized  belt  which  was  noted  in  Inj^o  County 
and  contains  among  other  mineral  resources  barytes,  clay,  copper,  gold, 
limestone,  molybdenum,  pumice,  salt,  silver,  and  travertine. 

In  fortieth  place,  commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Gold         

$209,040 
164 

1.912  lbs. 

Silver       

5.662 
3,906 

$218,772 

♦Includes  copper,  molybdenum  and  salt. 
9—10563 


L'5() 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CAMKORNIA. 


MONTEREY. 

Ana:  3,330  sciuare  miles. 

Population:  25,250  (estimate  by  Chamber  of  Commerce,  1914). 
Location:    West    central    portion    of   .state,    bordering   on    Piicific 
Ocean. 
Monterey  County  produced  nine  mineral  substances  during  the  year 
]017,  having  a  total  value  of  $138,786,  a.s  compared  witli  the  ]'J16  out- 
jiut  worth  .tlU!»,H72,  the  increa.se  being  due  mainly  to  dolomite  and 
quicksilver.     Its  mineral   resoui-ces  include  brick,  clay,  copper,  coal, 
(lohiiiiitc,  feldspar,  fuller's  earth,  gold,  silver,  gypsum,  infusorial  earth, 
limestone,  miiirral  water,  petroli'iiin,  ((iiicksilver,  glass-sanrl,  .sandsloiii', 
.sihcr,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

In  forty -fourth  place,  commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Dolomite    

Stone,  misct'lluneous 
Other  minerals* 


6,392  tons 


$23,468 

57,810 

<  57,508 


Total  value 


$138,786 


'Includes  barytes,  lofusorlal  oartb,  limestone,  mineral  water,  quicksilver,  salt,  and  silica. 

NAPA. 

Area:  783  square  miles. 

l'o}ndation  :  20, 500  (estimate  by  riianiber  of  Commerce,  1914). 
Location:  Directly  nm-th  of  San   I-'rauciseo  Bay — one  of  the  'hay 
counties.' 
Napa,  becau.se  of  its  production  of  .structural  and  industrial  mate- 
rials and  quicksilver,  stands  twenty-first  on  the  list  of  mineral-produc- 
ing   counties    in    California.     Its    mineral    resources    include    copper, 
cement,  gj'psum,  magnesite,  mineral  water,  quicksilver,  sandstone,  and 
miscellaneous  stone. 

In  1917,  the  value  of  the  output  increased  to  $1,421,073  from  the  1916 
figure  of  $1,078,537,  due  mainly  to  magnesite  and  cement. 
Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Ohromite 

Magnesite   

Mineral   water  

Quicl<silver  

Stone.  iniscellaneouB 
(Mlicr  minerals*  


844  tons 
40,329  tons 
126,124  gallons 
834  flasks 


$22,020 
.387,9.30 
70,0.58 
78,320 
110,039 
752,706 


Totiil  value $1,421,073 


'Includes   cement,    clay,   and   copper. 


STATISTICS   OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


131 


NEVADA. 

Area:  OH  S(iiiart;  miles. 

Population:  15,500  (estimate  by  Cluunlier  of  Commerce,  1914). 
Location :  North  of  Lake  Tahoe,  on  the  eastern  border  of  the  state. 
Nevada,  one  of  the  mountain  counties  of  California,  led  all  othei-s  in 
its  gold  output  for  1917.  Nevada  County  stands  tenth  on  the  list  in 
regard  to  the  value  of  its  total  mineral  output,  with  a  figure  of 
$3,838,397,  as  compared  with  the  1916  production  worth  $3,744,143. 
The  increase  is  due  mainly  to  chromite,  tungsten  and  gold. 

While  this  county  actually  produces  mainly  gold  and  silver,  its 
j'esources  cover  a  wide  scope,  including  antimony,  asbestos,  barytes,  bis- 
muth, chromite,  clay,  copper,  gems,  iron,  lead,  mineral  paint,  j)yrit.e, 
soap.stone,  and  tungsten. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows : 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Chromite   . 

1,962  tons 
40,165  lbs. 

$43,449 
10,965 

Copper 

Gold 

_     

3,682,947 

Silver   ._    _              ^                                i          __    ^          ^ 

52,335 

Stone,  miscellaneous 

1,600 

Other  minerals*     -.. 

47,101 

Total  value  ...  . 

$3,838,397 

•Includes  asbestos,  lead,  platinum,  and   tungsten  concentrates. 


ORANGE. 
Area:  795  square  miles. 

Population:  56,500  (estimate  by  Chamber  of  Commerce,  1914). 
Location :  Southwestern  portion  of  .state,  bordering  Pacific  Ocean. 
Orange  County  is  one  of  the  many  in  California  which  on  casual 
inspection  appears  to  be  anything  but  a  mineral-producing  section. 
It  stands,  however,  as  the  second  county  in  the  state  in  regard  to  the 
total  value  of  mineral  output  for  1917,  its  highly  productive  oil  fields 
making  such  a  condition  possible. 

This  county,  in  company  with  the  other  oil  counties,  shows  a  gain  in 
1917,  with  a  total  value  of  mineral  products  of  $15,231,626,  from  the 
.1916  output,  worth  $8,905,086.  It  thus  passed  Shasta  County  in  1917, 
which  previously  for  a  number  of  years,  had  exceeded  all  other  counties 
in  California,  except  Kern. 

A-side  from  the  substances  actually  produced  and  noted  in  the  table 
below,  coal,  gypsum,  iron,  infusoi'ial  earth,  sandstone,  and  tourmaline 
have  been  found  in  Orange  County. 


132  MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 

Commercial  ijroduutioii  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Valu* 

Brick  and  tile               _          __          _    

$11,000 

Natural  gas                  -    --    -- 

8,171,835  M  cu.  ft. 
14,680,801  bbls. 

4S0,5U 

I'otroleuni                        _                -- 

14,724,843 

2,699 

Other  minerals*                          _    _  -_ 

2,573 

Total  value              -                  - 

$15,231,626 

*Iu<hiilfs  clay-pnttpiy,  copper  anrl  lead. 

PLACER. 

Area:  1,39J)  .s(iuare  miles. 

Pojmlalion:  18,237   (1910  ceimis). 

Locaiion  -.  Eastern  border  of  state  directly  west  of  Lake  Tahoe. 
"While  standing  only  twenty-sixth  on  the  list  of  mineral-producing 
counties,  Placer  contains  a  wide  variety  of  mineral  substances,  some  of 
which  have  not  been  connnercially  exploited.  Its  leading  products  are 
gold,  chromite,  granite,  copper,  and  clay.  Other  mineral  resources  are:' 
A.sbe.stos,  brick,  chroniitf,  coal,  gems,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  magnesite, 
manganese,  marble,  quartz  crystals,  glass-sand,  silver,  and  miscellaneou.s 
stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Vila* 

4,287  tons 
44,097  tons 
710,601  lbs. 

$105,384 

Clay — pottery  

44,097 

Copper  

193,994 

Gold 

538,686 

Granite  

30,392 

Silver 

13,885 

Stone   iniseellaneous 

10,727 

Other  minerals* 

92,624 

$1,029,789 

•Includes  asbestos,   brick  and  tile,  gfems,  magnesite,  and  platinum. 


PLUMAS. 

Arm:  2,.'i94  squai'c  miles. 

I'djDilitHrin  :  .'),2r)!)   (1!)1()  census). 

Loralion:  Northcaslern  l)order  of  state,  .south  of  Lassen  County. 

A  considerable  portion  of  the  area  of  Plumas  County  lies  in  the  high 

mountains,  and  deposits  of  the  metals,  especially  gold  and  copper,  are 

found  thei-e.     Lack  of  transportation  and  f)ther  facilities  have  retarded 

its  growth,  l)ul  its  fulnre  is  (h-cidcdly  prumising.     Mineral  production 


STATISTICS   OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


1:^:1 


ioi-  1D17  was  valued  at  $2,294,886,  as  poiupared  with  the  IDKi  output, 
worth  il!l,399,335,  the  increase  being  due  to  copper,  and  silver. 

Among  its  mineral  i-esources  are :  f'hromite,  copper,  gold,  granite, 
iron,  lead,  liine.stone,  manganese,  platinum,  silver,  tungsten,  and  zinc. 

In  thirteenth  place,  commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Chromite   — 

Copper  

Gold            —       —                                

473  tons 
7,462,870  lbs. 

$9,800 

2,037,364 

131,955 

Manganese            _                  _      _          _, 

1,540  tons 

39,680 

Silver       -         -    -                   _____ 

74,461 

Stone,  miscellaneous          _    ._  _  

1,.322 

304 

Tdtiil  Viiluc               .        

$2,294,886 

♦Includes  gems,  granite,  and  silica. 

RIVERSIDE. 

Area:  7,240  square  miles. 

Population:  45,000  (estimate  by  County  Clerk,  1914). 
Location:  Southern  portion  of  state. 
Riverside  is  the  fourth  county  in  the  state  in  .size  and  the  eighteenth 
in  regard  to  the  total  value  of  mineral  outimt  for  1917.  Within  its 
borders  are  included  mountain,  desert,  and  agricultural  land.  Its 
miiuM-al  resources  include  metals,  structural  and  indu.strial  materials, 
and  salines,  .some  of  the  more  important  ln'ing  borax,  brick,  cement, 
clay,  coal,  copper,  feldspar,  Lrems,  gold,  gyp.sum,  iron,  lead,  limestone, 
inauganese,  magnesite,  marble,  mineral  paint,  mineral  water,  salt,  glass- 
sand,  soapstone,  silver,  mi.sci'llaneous  stone,  and  tin. 

The  increase  in  1917  over  the  ]916  value  of  .i)l,234,252  is  due  mainly 
to  cement  and  potash. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Brick  and  tile 

Clay — pottery  

Copper  

Feldspar  

Granite   

Gypsum  

Lead    

Silica    

Stone,  miscellaneous 
Other  minerals* 


Vilut 


70,798  tons 
28,838  lbs. 
11,097  tons 


1.923  tons 
1,157  lbs. 
770  tons 


$16,5,892 

55,491 

7,873 

42,900 

3,461 

3,001 

100 

2,400 

72,364 

1,227,073 


Total  value ;      $1,580,555 


•Includes  cement,  fluorspar,  gems,  magnesite,  manganese,  mineral  water,  potash, 
and  silver. 


i;34 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


SACRAMENTO. 

Area :  9813  .square  miles. 

Population:  90,000  (estimate  by  Chamber  of  Commerce,  1913). 
Location :  North-central  portion  of  state. 
Sacramento  stands  fourteenth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  as  a 
mineral  producer,  the  output,  principally  gold,  for  1917  being  valued 
at  $2,286,656,  as  compared  with  the  1916  production,  worth  $2,178,674. 
Jn  regai'd  to  gold  output  alone  this  county  ranks  fourth,  being  exceeded 
only  by  Nevada,  Amador,  and  Yuba  counties.  Its  mineral  re-sources 
include:  Brick,  clay,  gold,  natural  gas,  platinum,  .silver,  and  miscel- 
laneous stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  a.s  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Brick  and  tile 

$122  88(i 

Clay — pottery  . ..    ..    ....      _    . 

310  tons 

410 

Gold    _      _            

1  919  581 

Platinum   __          .....          

157  ounces 

12,453 

Silver   ... 

4,487 

Stone,  miscellaneous      ..    .. 

199,839 

Other  minerals ... 

27,000 

Total  value 

.$2,286,656 

SAN  BENITO. 

Area:  1,;392  .square  miles. 

J'opidalioii:  8,750  (estimate  by  County  Clerk,  1914). 
Location:  West-central  poition  of  state. 
Altliougli  twenty-third  among  the  counties  of  the  state  in  regard  to 
>aiue  of  total  mineral  production,  San  Benito  leads  in  one  important 
branch  of  the  mineral  industry,  namely,  quicksilver. 

Its   other   mineral   resources,   many   of  them   undeveloped,    include: 
Antimony,  bituminous  rock,  chromite,  coal,  gj^psum,  gems,  limestone, 
mineral  water,  soapstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 
Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

7,000  tons 
11,150  flasks 

$15,000 
1,057,770 

Quicksilver      ...           . 

101,148 

Other  minerals*                      .  . 

59,245 

Total  value    ...                .      . 

$1,233,163 

•Includes  antimony,  chromite,  magnesite  and  mineral  water. 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNU.M,    PRODUCTION. 


135 


SAN  BERNARDINO. 

Area:  20,157  square  miles. 

Population:  53,000  (estimate  by  board  of  supervisors,  1914). 

Location :  Southea.stern  portion  of  state. 

San  Bernardino,  by  far  the  largest  county  in  the  state,  in  area,  ranks 
sixth  as  regrards  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1917  with  a  total 
of  .$7,407,742,  as  compared  with  the  1916  total  of  $6,569,147.  The 
increase  is  due  mainly  to  potash  and  cement,  in  spite  of  the  consider- 
able decrease  in  tung.sten  value. 

San  Bernardino  leads  all  other  counties  in  the  state  in  point  of  variet.y 
(.f  nunerals  produced  connnercially  during  1917,  there  being  25  different 
substances  on  its  list,  against  17  for  its  nearest  competitor,  Inyo  County. 

This  county,  consisting  largely  of  mountain  and  desert  country,  is 
liighly  mineralized,  the  following  being  included  among  its  resources: 
Asbestos,  barjtes,  borax,  brick,  cement,  clay,  copper,  gems,  gold,  gran- 
ite, gypsum,  iron,  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  marble,  mineral  paint, 
mineral  water,  nitre,  potash,  salt,  glass-sand,  silver,  soapstone,  soda, 
miscellaneous  stone,  strontium,  talc,  tungsten,  vanadium  and  zinc. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Cement    _                                        _       .. 

1,323,931  bbls. 
1,220,3.56  lbs. 



$1,672,054 

Copper —    -_    . 

333,157 

Gold .    _                     .._... 

154,976 

ni-;inite   —    ..      _  _       _      .. 

2,350 

2,293,541  lbs. 

197,245 

1/ime  and  limestone    ..        __    ..        . 

187,571 

Miuigtiiiesp . ., 

235  tons 
11,300  gallons 
14,570  tons 

6,0.50 

Miiirral   water .    .. 

1,620 

Potash .. 

2,049,120 

Silver   _-_ ._    ... 

88,930 

Stone,  miscellaneous  ..-...-. 

111,158 

Strontium     ... 

3,050  tons 
1,943  tons 
38,735  lbs. 

37,000 

Tungsten  concentrates  

Zinc   .' . 

2,447,726 
3,951 

Otlier  minerals* 

114,834 



Total  value 

$7,407,742 

•Includes    brick,    clay-pottery,    dolomite,    feldspar,    gems,    gypsum,    iron,    mineral 
paint,  salt,  soda  and  talc. 

SAN  DIEGO. 

Area :  4,221  square  miles. 

PopuMion:  125,379  (estimate  by  County  Clerk,  1914). 

Location  ^  Extreme  southwest  corner  of  state. 
San  Diego,  first  in  California  in  the  production  of  gem  stones,  ranks 
sixteenth  in  the  total  value  of  its  mineral  output.     This  figure  for  1917 
equaled  $1,713,708,  as  compared  to  the  1916  output  worth  $397,168, 


i 


136 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


the  advance  beiug  due  to  potash  and  copper.  Aside  from  minerals 
commercially  i)roduced,  as  shown  below,  San  Diego  County  contains 
occurrences  of  bismuth,  lithia,  marble,  nickel,  soapstonc,  and  tin.  Pot- 
ash is  produced  from  kelp. 

A  recent  development  is  the  shipping  of  pebbles  for  grinding  mills. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Brick  and  tile 

Copper 

Potash  

Salt   

Stone,  miscellaneous 
Other  minerals* 


Total  value 


159,349  lbs. 
5,252  tons 
4,500  tons 


$21,423 

43,.502 

1,492,123 

9,75(1 

125,85.'i 

21,055 

$1,713,708 


•Includes   clay-pottery,   gems,   granite,   lithia,   mineral   water,   molybdenum,   silica, 
and  silver. 

SAN  FRANCISCO. 

Area:  43  square  miles. 

Population:  527,000  (estimate  by  Chamber  of  Commerce,  1915). 
Surprising  as  it  may  appear  at  first  glance,  San  Francisco  County 
is  listed  among  the  mineral  i)rodncing  sections  of  the  state,  actual  pro- 
duction consisting  of  crushed  rock,  sand,  and  gravel.  Small  quantities 
of  various  valuable  mineral  .substances  are  found  here,  including  cin- 
nabar, gyp.sum,  lignite,  and  magnesite,  none,  however,  in  paying  quan- 
tities. 

In  forty-sixth  place,  commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Stono,  miscellaneous      --       _-         _       _-      _  __ 

$107,957 

SAN  JOAQUIN. 

Area :  1,448  square  miles. 

Population:  70,000  (estimate  by  Chaml)er  of  Commerce,  1914). 

Location :  Central  portion  of  state. 
San  Joaquin  County  reported  a  mineral  production  for  the  year 
1917  having  a  total  value  of  $470,220.  as  compared  with  the  1916  out- 
put, worth  !f;468,8fi2,  the  increase  being  due  mainly  to  manganese. 
Comparatively  few  mineral  sub.stances  ai"e  found  here,  the  chief  ones 
being  brick,  clay,  infusorial  earth,  manganese,  natural  gas,  glass-sand, 
and  miscellaneous  stone. 


STATISTICS   OF   ANNUAL   I'KUDUCTION.  1;57 

In  thirty-tiret  place,  commercial  productiou  for  1917  was  as  follows: 

Value 


Brick  and  tile $185,060 

Manganese    6,320  tons        I  157,.500 

N;itural  gas  __ i   348,146  M.  cu.  ft.j  72,585 

Stone,  miscellaneous  ] 1  55,003 

Other  minerals | 1  ^2 

Total   value  $470,220 


SAN  LUIS  OBISPO. 

Ana:  3,-'J3-lr  .square  miles. 

I'opulatian:  25.000  (estinialc  l>y  Cliaiiihci-  of  Commerce.  I'.IU). 
Location  :  Bordered  by  Kern  County  ou  the  east  and  the  Pacific 
Ocean  on  the  we.st. 
The  total  value  of  the  mineral  production  of  San  Luis  Obispo  County 
in  1917  was  $338,144,  as  compared  with  the  1916  output,  worth  $245,807, 
the  increase  being  due  to  chromite  and  quicksilver.     Among  its  mineral 
resources,  both  developed  and  undeveloped,  are:    Asphalt,  bituminous 
rock,  brick,  chromite,  coal,  copper,  gypsum,  infusorial  earth,  iron,  lime- 
stone, marble,  mineral  water,  onyx,  petroleum,  quicksilver,  and  miscel- 
laneous stone. 

In  thirty-fifth  place,  commercial  productidu  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Chrornite 

4,109  tons 
I.-IOO  gals. 
74.143  bl)ls. 
1,565  flasks 

$92,846 

300 

fi8.65(; 

i.-ii.nat 

stone,  miscellaneous      -         

8,422 

16,886 

Total  value                                             -         -    

$.338,144 

•Includes  bituminous  rock,  brick,  manganese,  and  soda. 

SAN  MATEO. 

Area :  447  square  miles. 

Population:  35.000  (estimate  by  Chamber  of  Commerce,  1914). 

Location:  Peninsula,  ad.ioined  by  San  Francisco  on  the  north. 
San  Mateo's  most  important  mineral  products  are  .stone,  brick,  and 
salt,  the  last-named  being  derived  by  evaporation  from  the  waters  of 
San  Francisco  Bay.  The  total  value  of  all  mineral  production  during 
1917  equaled  $207,162,  as  compared  with  the  1916  figures  of  $135,408, 
the  increase  being  due  to  salines. 


138 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


Small  iimounts  of  barytes,  ehrouiite,  infasorial  earth  and  quicksilver 

liave  been  noted  in  addition  to  the  items  of  economic  value  given  below. 

In  forty -first  place,  commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows : 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Geras  

$1.50 

114,689 

71,6fi8 

Salt   

36,483  tons 

Stono,  niLscellaneous 

Other  minerals*  _         _ 

20,6ri6 

Total  value  , ._.    

$207,163 

"Includes  brick  and  tile,  magnesium  chloride  and  potash. 


SANTA  BARBARA. 

Area:  2,740  square  miles. 

Population  :  32,750  (Rstimate  by  Chamber  of  (Commerce,  1914). 
Location  -.  Southwestern  portion  of  state,  joining  San  Luis  Obispo 
on  the  south. 

Santa  Barbara  County  owes  its  position  as  eighth  in  the  state  in 
regard  to  its  mineral  output  to  the  presence  of  productive  oil  fields 
witliin  its  boundai'ics.  The  total  value  of  its  mineral  production  dur- 
ing the  year  1917  was  .^i.'), 153,081,  as  compared  with  the  1916  output  of 
$4,535,029.  Santa  Barbara,  in  company  with  the  other  oil  counties, 
.showed  an  increase  in  petroleum  valuation  for  1917. 

Aside  from  the  mineral  substances  listed  below,  Santa  Barbara 
County  contains  asphalt,  diatomaeeous  earth,  gilsonitc,  gypsum,  mag- 
nosite,  and  quicksilver  in  more  or  less  abundance. 

Commercial  production  for  1916  was  as  follows: 


Mineral  water 

Natural  gas 

Petroleum  

Potash  

.Sauflstoue  

Stone,  miscellaneous 
Other  minerals* 


104,991  gals. 
3,104.170  M  cu.  ft. 
5,631,563  l)bls. 
974  tons 
28,700  cu.  ft. 


Total  value  $5,153,081 


$86,026 

227,5117 
4.ri.50,3li:! 

126,830 
6.1.50 
5,9.50 

1.50,315 


•Includes  brick,   diatomaeeous  earth,   limestone,   and  quicksilver. 


STATISTICS    OK    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


13'J 


SANTA  CLARA. 

Area:  1,328  square  miles. 

Population:  90,000  (estimate  by  board  ot"  supervisors,  1914). 

Location :  West-central  portion  of  state. 

S;iiita  Clara  County  reported  a  mineral  output  for  ]917  of  $991,530 
as  compared  with  the  1916  figures  of  $851,948,  the  increase  being  due 
to  a  larger  yield  of  quicksilver,  more  than  offsetting  the  loss  in  inag- 
iiesite  output  on  account  of  the  mines  on  Red  Mountain  being  shut 
down  by  litigation  for  most  of  the  year. 

This  county,  lying  largely  on  the  Coast  Range  Mountains,  contains 
a  wide  vai'iety  of  mineral  substances,  including  brick,  chromite,  cla\', 
limestone,  magnesite,  manganese,  mineral  Wiater,  petroleum,  quick- 
silver, soapstoue,  and  niLseellaneous  stone.  It  stood  second  in  quiek- 
silver  yield  for  the  year. 

In  twenty-seventh  place,  commercial  production  for  1917  was  as 
follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Chromite        -  - 

334  tons 

$8,515 
80,flOO 

Brick 

Clay  (pottery) .. 

6.014  tons 

9.963  tons 

760  tons 

10,230  gals. 

18,8.55  bbls. 
5,921  flasks 

4,929 

Jl!lf?I10.«itC .     _         .  .     

99  287 

JliiiiK'ancsc   _  .      -.        -         -- 

18.606 

i\Iinpi"Ml   water 

1  923 

Prtroh'uni         .  .  _ 

26,1.')2 

(,>iiick.«ilver  .     _ 

639,.591 

Sionc,  inlscpllimcous ...  _.    

111,3(14 

other  iiiincrals* .......         .....    

1,220 

Total  value        .                .  .                            ... 

$991,530 

•Includes  tile  and  limestone. 


SANTA  CRUZ. 

Area:  435  square  mile,s. 

Population:  30,140  (estimate  by  Chamber  of  Connuerce,  1914). 

Location :  Bordering  Pacific  Ocean,  .just  south  of  San  Mateo  County. 

The  mineral  output  of  Santa  Cruz  County,  a  portion  of  which  is 

itemized  below,   amounted  to  a  total  value  of  $1,668,324,   giving  the 

county  a  standing  of  seventeenth  among  all  others  in  the  state  in  this 

regard. 

Among  the  mineral  resources  known  here  are  bituminous  rock,  cement, 
coal,  gold,  lime,  limestone,  petroleum,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 


140  MINEKAI.    INDUSTRY    OK    CALIFORNIA. 

(Joiniiicrfi;il  i>ro(UR'tiuii  for  I'JIT  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

lyiiiio  mid  liiiiostono 

$185,150 

StoiiP,  111  i  sod  1 11 11  oo us 

2,368 

l.i80.8()O 

$1,668,324 

•Includes  bituminous  rook,   cement,  and  potash. 


SHASTA. 

Area:  3,858  square  miles. 

PopuJalion:  ID.OOO  (esliinate  h.y  (!oimty  C^lerk,  1!)]4). 

Loidlion:  Nortli-eeiitral  jiortiori  of  stale. 

Shasta  (!()iiiily  stamis  l^tiii'tli  in  ( 'aiifoi-iiia  anions  Hk'  iiiiiiei'al-iiro- 
(liiciiijf  couiilies  lot-  11)17  wilii  an  untput  valued  at;  $10,24-4, SUA,  as  eom- 
])ai-e(l  with  the  IDKi  produetiou,  wortii  !j;13,G:5!),.j()8,  the  deerea.se  beiufj; 
due  mainly  to  the  falling  off  in  copper  output.  Not  taking  petroleum 
into  aceount,  Shasta  leads  all  the  comities  by  a  wide  margin.  This 
founty  is  first  in  copper  production,  second  in  silver,  first  in  pyrite,  first 
in  zinc,  and  .seventh  in  gold.  The  Shasta  copper  belt  contains  the  most 
important  deposits  of  this  metal  yet  developed  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

Slia.sta's  mineral  reso\ii'ccs  include:  A.sbestos,  barytes,  brick,  clir-oiii- 
ite,  coal,  copjicr,  gold,  iriin,  lead,  liiiic,  limestone,  minei'al  watei',  molyb- 
denum, pyrite.  silver,  miscellaneous  stone,  and  zinc 

Jiassen  Peak  is  located   in  soutlicastcrn   Shasta  County. 

Commei'cial  pi'odui'lii>ii  I'or  11)17  was  iis  Follows: 


SubsUiico 

Amount 

Value 

Cliroiiiitc     _                      ______  — »_ 

3,116  tons 
28,009,990  lbs. 

$68,479 
7,f>16,727 

775,125 

Gold    

l.ead -    

8,725  lbs. 

7.50 

JJiiic  and  limestone    __  - 

78,101 

Platinum                                          '         -    _    _  __ 

14  ounces 

1,1(X) 

Si  Ivor       _..          _ 

520  70:! 

StoiH',  miscellaneous 

800 

8,281,516  lbs. 

844,715 

308,369 

$10,244,869 

"Includes    cadmium,    brick,    iron    ore,    mineral    water,    molybdenum,    pyrite,    and 

silica. 


STATISTICS    OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION.  141 

SIERRA. 

Area  -.  923  square  miles. 
Population:  4,098  (1910  census). 

Locaiion  -.  Eastern  border  of  state,  just  north  of  Nevada  County. 
Sierra  County  reported  a  mineral  production  of  $389,615,  consisting 
mainly  of  gold  and  silver,  durino-  the  year  1917,  as  compared  with  the 
191()  output,  worth  $729,497,  the  decrease  being  due  to  the  falling  off 
in  gold  output.  Considering  gold  output  alone,  this  county  stands 
(Icvcnth  ;  and  as  to  total  mineral  yield,  thirty-third. 

.Vsidc  from  the  metals  itemized  l)elo\v,  .Sierra  County  contains  de- 
posits of  asl)i'st(is,  clu'omitr,  iron,  lead,  platiiiuiii  iiiiiU'rals,  serpentiin-, 
.■uid  tide. 

Commercial  pi'oduction  for  1917  was  a.s  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

13,031  lbs. 

$3,558 

Gold      --        - 

384,428 

Silver                                          -          -     - 

1,629 

Totti 

$.-^89,615 

SISKIYOU. 

Area:  0,256  scjuare  miles. 

Population:  25,0(X)  (estimate  by  County  Clerk,  1914). 

Loratioii:  Extreme  north-central  portion  of  .state,  next  to  Oregon 
bcmndary. 
Siskiyou,  fifth  county  in  California  in  regard  to  size,  located  in  a 
highly  mineralized  and  mountainous  country,  ranks  thirty-ninth  in 
regard  to  the  value  of  its  mineral  output  for  1917.  Although  the 
county  is  traversed  by  a  transcontinental  railroad  in  a  north  and  south 
line,  the  mineral-bearing  sections  are  almost  without  exception  far  from 
transportation  and  other  facilities.  A  large  part  of  the  county  is  aeee.s- 
sible  by  trail  alone.  Future  development  and  exploitation  will  doubt- 
less increase  the  productiveness  of  this  part  of  the  state  to  a  great 
degree. 

Among  Siskiyou '.s  mineral  resources  are:  Chromite,  clay,  coal,  cop- 
per, gems,  gold,  lead,  limestone,  manganese,  mai'hle,  minei'al  water, 
immice,  quicksilver,  .sandstone,  silver,  and  misccllane(jus  stone. 


142  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CAMFORNhV 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Chromite   - 2,046  tons 

Copper .888,043  lbs. 

Gold 

Granite  

I.cud   192  lbs. 

Mineral  water . 503,000  gals. 

Platinum  15  ounces 

Silver  

Stone,  miscellaneous  

ot  lier  minerals*  

Total  value 


$49,797 

242,4:« 

325,5.50 

500 

17 

50,600 

709 

16,883 

134,382 

8,535 

$829,409 


•Inrludes  lime,  saiulstone,   and  soda. 

SOLANO. 

Area:  822  square  milas. 

Poimlation:  31,000  (estimate  by  Chamber  of  Commerce,  1914). 

Location  :  Touching  San  Francisco  Bay  on  the  northeast. 
Solano,  while  niostlj^  valley  land,  produced  mineral  substances  during 
the  year  1917  to  the  total  value  of  !i!l,892,231,  ranking  fifteenth  among 
the  counties  of  the  state,  the  advance  over  1916  being  due  to  cement. 
Among  her  mineral  resources  are:  Brick,  cement,  clay,  fuller's  earth, 
limestone,  mineral  water,  natural  gas,  onyx,  petroleum,  quicksilver,  salt, 
and  mi.scellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substaoce 

Amount 

Value 

Mineral  water  

Quicksilver      

10,960  gals. 
554  flasks 

$2,.580 
52  76.J 

Stone,  miscellaneous 

39,826 

Other  minerals* 

1,804,060 

Total  value 

$1,899,231 

*IncliKie.s  cement,  fuller's  earth,  natural  gas  and  salt. 


SONOMA. 

Area:  1,577  square  miles. 
Population:  48,394  (1910  census). 

Location  :  South  of  Mendocino  County,  l)or(li'ring  on  the  Pacific 

Ocean. 

Sonoma  ranked  thirty-first  among  the  counties  of  California  during 

the  year  1917,  with  a  mineral  production  of  $506,750,  as  compared  with 

its  1916  output  worth  .$472, 048,  the  increase  being  due  mainly  to  quick- 


STATISTICS   OF    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


143 


silver.  i\Iorc  paving  blocks  are  tiinioil  out  here  than  iu  any  other  sec- 
tion of  the  state. 

Among  Sonoma  s  mineral  resources  are:  Brick,  cliromite,  clay,  cop- 
per, graphite,  infu.sorial  earth,  magnesite,  manganese,  marble,  mineral 
paint,  mineral  water,  quicksilver,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Chromite  226  tons 

Magnesite ._ 5,636  tons 

Munganose    362  tons 

-Mineral  water  121,290  gals. 

yuieksilver  . 2,592  fla,«!ks 

.Stonp,   ini.«pollanoous   

Otlipr  minerals 

Total  value 


$6,200 

61  ,,3.35 

12,689 

35,031 

244,810 

146,621 

64 


$506,750 


STANISLAUS, 

Area  -.  1,450  square  miles. 

Population:  30,000  (estimate  by  Board  of  Trade,  1914). 
Location :  Center  of  state,  bounded  on  south  by  Merced  County, 
Gold  is  the  chief  mineral  product  of  Stanislaus  County,  although 
brick,  clay,  gypsum,  iron,  manganese,  mineral  paint,  quicksilver,  and 
silver  are  found  here  to  some  extent  as  well.     This  county,  for  1917, 
ranks  thirty-seventh  in  the  state  in  regard  to  value  of  minerals,  with  an 
output  of  ,$289,922,  as  compared  with  .$2.53,022,  the  increase  being  due 
•  to  chromite,  magnesite  and  manganese.     In  order  not  to  reveal  individ- 
ual business,  the  gold,  platinum,  and  silver  yields  of  its  single  dredge 
are  combined  with  the  data  of  other  minerals. 
Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows : 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Chromite  .. 

1,438  tons 

3.196  tons 

775  tons 

?29,240 

44,350 

26,925 

6,240 

183,167 

Magnesite   

Manganese   -  

Stone,  miscellaneous    .- 

Other  minerals* .    ... 

Total  value 

$289,922 

♦Includes  gold,  mineral  paint,  platinum,  and  silver. 


144 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CAT.IFORNIA. 


SUTTER. 

Area:  GOS  s<|iiare  miles. 

Population:  9,375  (c'stiinatc  by  County  Clerk,  ]fll4). 

Location:  Bonmlcd  by  l^nttc  County  on  tlie  uortti  and  .Saoranienlo 
on  the  south. 
Sutter  is  one  of  only  two  counties  in  the  state  whieli  for  a  number  of 
years  reported  no  commercial  output  of  some  kind  of  mineral  .sub.stanee. 
In  1917  .some  crushed  rock  was  taken  out,  from  the  Marysville  Butte.s, 
as  indicated  liclow,  its  relative  rank  amonj?  the  counties  l)eing  tifty- 
I'oiirth.  lioth  clay  and  coal  exi.st  here,  but  dejjo.sits  of  neither  mineral 
have  been  placed  on  a  productive  basis. 


Substance 

Ailiolllit 

Value 

SI 

Ulfi, 

iiiisc 

■lliiiicoii.';  ..     

J.'i.OOO 

TEHAMA. 
Area:  2.893  square  miles. 

Population  :  14,575  (estimate  by  County  C'lerk,  1914). 
LocaMon:  North-central  jiorlion  of  the  state,  bounded  on  the  nortli 
by  Shasta. 
Tehama  stands   fifty-first    anumi;   tlie   tifty-seven   mineral-prodiiciuj; 
counties  of  the  sfate.     Its  iniiicial  output  during  1917  was  valued  at 
.$44,019,  as  eomi)ared  with  the  191()  production,  worth  !|!54,353. 

Among  its  mineral  resources  are  listed:   Brick,  ehromite,  coppei-,  guhl, 
niangane.se,  marble,  mineral  water,  salt,  and  niiseellaneons  stone. 
Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Ohromite  .... 

2,053  tons 

$41,646 
2,373 

Stone,   lni.'^ceHancous     ..... 

Totul  value  

$44,019 

TRINITY. 
Area :  3,16G  square  miles. 
Population:  3,301   (1910  census). 
Ldvalion:  Northwestern  i)ortion  of  state. 
Trinity,   like  Siskiyou   County,   recpiire.s  transportation  facilities  to 
further   the  development   of  its   many   and  varied  mineral   resouriu's. 
Deposits  of  asbestos,   barytes,   ehromite,   copper,  gold,   mineral  water, 
platinum,  quiek.silver,  silver,  and  ])uilding  stone  are  knowu  here,  but 
with  the  exception  of  gold  and  copper,  very  little  active  production  oi' 


STATISTICS   OP    ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


145 


these  mineral  substances  is  possible,  as  yet.  The  1917  output  of 
$987,842  shows  an  increase  over  the  1916  figure  of  $846,561,  due  mainly 
to  gold,  as  Trinity  was  one  of  the  few  counties  in  California  not  show- 
ing a  decrease  in  gold  yield  for  1917. 

In  twenty-eighth  place,  commercial  output  for  1917  was: 


Chromite                          -               __         _          

242  tons 

$6  325 

Gold - 

602,048 

Platinum  - 

50  ounces 

■    3,283 

Silver                                                                         

10,021 

Stone,  miscellaneous                                         -.  - 

7,718 

358,447 

$987,842 

♦Includes  copper,   manganese,  mineral  water,   quicksilver. 


TULARE. 

Area  -.  4,856  square  miles. 
Population:  35,440  (1910  census). 

Location :  Bounded  by  Inyo  on  the  east,  Kern  on  the  south,  Fresno 
on  the  north. 
Tulare  stands  nineteenth  on  the  list  of  mineral-producing  counties. 
Her  mineral  resources,  among  others,  are :  Brick,  clay,  copper,  feldspar, 
graphite,  gems,  lime-stone,  raagnesite,  marble,  quartz,  glass-sand,  soap- 
stone,  miscellaneous  stone,  and  zinc.  Tulare  leads  the  state  in  magne- 
site  output,  and  to  this  is  due  her  advance  of  practically  a  half  million 
dollars  in  1917  over  the  1916  figure. 

Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Chromite  

450  tons 

$11,000 

112.938 

Brick 

Feldspar 

Magnesite   

■Stone,  miscellaneous 
Other  minerals*  


240  tons 
136,562  tons 


Total  value 


1.580 

1,238,853 

75,504 

60,023 


$1,499,988 


•Includes  building  tile,   copper,   granite,   limestone  and   talc. 


10—10563 


146 


MINERAL    INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 


TUOLUMNE. 
Area:  2,190  square  uiil&s. 
Population:  9,979  (1910  census). 

Location :  East-central  portion  of  state — Mother  Lode  district. 
Tuokunne  ranks  thirtieth  among  the  counties  of  the  state  relative  to 
its  total  value  of  mineral  output.  As  a  producer  of  marble  its  standing 
is  first.  The  decrease  in  1917  to  $.511,278  from  the  1916  figure  of 
i|!l,004,262  was  due  to  the  marked  falling  off  in  gold  output,  amounting 
to  over  a  half  million  dollars. 

Chromite,  clay,  copper,  gold,  lead,  limestone,  marble,  mineral  paint, 
l)latinum,  soapstone,  silver,  and  miscellaneous  stone,  are  among  its  min- 
eral rasources. 

(Jonmierciul  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


I 


Olii'oinite 
Coppor  ... 
Cold  _ 


Lend    

I.iiiiostone 
Silver    


2,fi80  tons 
32,840  II  IS. 


997  lbs. 
3.287  tons 


Stone,   niiseellanooiis 
(It  her  iiiinprnls*  


Toliil    Viillie 


$.'->4,290 
8,96") 

8(i 
6,481 

7,81  tS 

.-i.WKI 

108,7,'-)8 


$511,273 


•Includes  dolomite,  lime,  magncsite  and  marble. 

VENTURA. 
Area:  1,878  sipiare  miles. 

Population'.  21,000  (estimate  l)y  Chamber  of  Commerce,  1914). 
Locatio-n :    Southwestern    portion    of    state,    bordering    on    Pacific 
Ocean. 
Ventura  is  the  twentieth  county  in  the  state  in  respect  to  the  value 
of  its  mineral  production  for  1917,  the  exact  figure  being  $1,498,010,  as 
compared  with  the  output  for  1916,  worth  $1,13.5,430. 

The  highest  gravitj'  petroleum  produced  in  the  state  is  found  here. 
Among  its  other  mineral  rasource.s  are:    Asphalt,  borax,  brick,  clay, 
mineral  water,  natural  ga.s,  sandstone,  and  miscellaneous  stone. 
Commercial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Substance 

Amount 

Value 

Natural  gas 

1.033,564  M  cu.  ft. 
996,501  bbls. 

$152,5.50 

1,313,388 

30,000 

Petroleum 

Stone,  miscellaneous 

Other  minerals*  . _ 

2,072 

TotMl  value 

$1,498,010 

♦Includes  brick  and  sand.stone. 


STATISTICS   OP   ANNUAL   PRODUCTION. 


147 


YOLO. 

Area:  1,014  square  miles. 

I'opuMion:  15,000  (estimate  by  County  Clerk,  191-t). 
Locafion :  Sacramento  Valley,  bounded  by  Sutter  on  the  east  and 
Colusa  on  the  north. 
The  mineral  production  from  Yolo  County  during  the  year  1917  eon- 
.sisted  mainlj-  of  quicksilver  and  miscellain'ons  stone,  valued  at  $5,561, 
ranking  it  in  fifty-third  place.     Deposits  of  undetermined  value  of  iron 
and  sandstone  have  been  discovered  within  the  confines  of  this  county. 
Conuuereial  production  for  1917  was  as  follows: 


Stone,   miscellaneous   $4,300 

Other  minerals  1,261 

Total  value  $.5..561 


YUBA. 

Ar<(t:  (V.V.)  square  miles. 

ropulation:  14,750   (estimate  by  County  Chn-k.   1!)14). 

Location :  Lies  west  of  Sierra  and  Nevada  i-ouutie-s :  south  of 
Plumas. 
Yuba  is  eleventh  of  the  fifty-seven  mineral-producing  counties  of  the 
state,  and  is  second  in  regard  to  gold  output,  surpassing  Amador 
Cotmty  in  1917  in  gold  yield,  which  has  usually  alternated  in  the  lead 
w'ith  Nevada  County.  Iron  deposits  have  been  rejiorted  in  this  county, 
a.side  from  the  following  commercial  production  as  reported  for  the  year 
1917 : 


Substance 

.\niount 

Value 

Gold      

$.3,677,673 
8  869 

Platinum       _. - -         _ 

149 

ounces 

Silver      —              ..         - .  - 

6,.591 

Stone,  miscellaneous           .-    -.. 

28,863 

Total  value 

$3,721,996 



148  M1NER.U>   INDUSTRY   OP   CALIFOBNIA. 


CHAPTER  EIGHT. 


APPENDIX. 


MINING  BUREAU  ACT. 

Chapter  679. 
[Stats.,  1913.] 


An  act  establishing  a  state  mining  bureau,  creating  the  office  of  state  mineralogist, 
fixing  his  salary  and  prescribing  his  powers  and  duties;  providing  for  the 
employment  of  officers  and  employees  of  said  bureau,  making  It  the  duty  of 
persons  In  charge  of  mines,  mining  operations  and  quarries  to  make  certain 
reports,  providing  for  the  Investigation  of  mining  operations,  dealings  and 
transactions  and  the  prosecution  for  defrauding,  swindling  and  cheating  t 
creating  a  state  mining  bureau  fund  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  pro 


[Approved  June  16,  1913.     In  effect  August  10,  1913.] 
The  people  of  the  state  of  California  do  enact  a»  follows: 

Section  1.  There  is  hereby  created  and  established  a  stale  mining  bureau.  The 
chief  officer  of  such  bureau  shall  he  the  state  mineralogist,  which  office  is  hereby 
created. 

Sec.  2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  governor  of  the  slate  of  California  and  he  is 
hereby  empowered  to  appoint  a  citizen  and  resident  of  this  state,  having  a  practical 
and  scientific  knowledge  of  mining,  to  the  office  of  state  mineralogist.  Said  state 
mineralogist  shall  hold  his  office  at  the  pleasure  of  the  governor.  He  shall  be  a  civil 
executive  officer.  He  shall  take  and  subscribe  the  same  oath  of  office  as  other 
state  officers.  He  shall  receive  for  his  services  a  salary  of  three  hundred  dollars 
($300)  per  month,  to  be  paid  at  the  same  time  and  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
salaries  of  other  state  officers.  He  shall  also  receive  his  necessary  traveling 
expenses  when  traveling  on  the  business  of  his  office.  He  shall  give  bond  for  the 
faithful  performance  of  his  duties  in  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  ($10,000), 
said  bond  to  be  approved  by  the  governor  of  the  state  of  California. 

Sec.  3.  Said  state  mineralogist  shall  employ  competent  geologists,  field  assistants, 
qualified  specialists  and  office  employees  when  necessary  in  the  execution  of  his 
plans  and  operations  of  the  bureau,  and  fix  their  compensation.  The  said  employees 
shall  be  allowed  their  necessary  traveling  expenses  when  traveling  on  the  business  of 
said  department  and  shall  hold  office  at  the  pleasure  of  said  state  mineralogist. 

Sec.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  state  mineralogist  to  make,  facilitate,  and 
encourage,  special  studies  of  the  mineral  resources  and  mineral  industries  of  the 
state.  It  shall  be  his  duty :  to  collect  statistics  concerning  the  occurrence  and  pro- 
duction of  the  economically  important  minerals  and  the  methods  pursued  in  making 
their  valuable  constituents  available  for  commercial  use ;  to  make  a  collection  of 
typical  geological  and  mineralogical  specimens,  especially  those  of  economic  and 
commercial  importance,  such  collection  constituting  the  museum  of  the  state  mining 
bureau ;  to  provide  a  library  of  books,  reports,  drawings,  bearing  upon  the  mineral 
industries,  and  sciences  of  mineralogy  and  geology,  and  arts  of  mining  and  metallurgy, 
such  library  constituting  the  library  of  the  state  mining  bureau ;  to  make  a 
collection  of  models,  drawings  and  descriptions  of  the  mechanical  appliances  used 
in  mining  and  metallurgical  processes ;  to  preserve  and  so  maintain  such  collections 


APPENDIX.  149 

and  libraiy  as  to  make  them  available  for  reference  and  examination,  and  open  to 
public  inspection  at  reasonable  hours ;  to  maintain,  in  effect,  a  bureau  of  information 
concerning  the  mineral  industries  of  this  state,  to  consist  of  such  collections  and 
library,  and  to  arrange,  classify,  catalogue,  and  index  the  data  therein  contained,  in 
a  manner  to  make  the  information  available  to  those  desiring  it;  to  issue  from  time 
to  time  such  bulletins  as  he  may  deem  advisable  concerning  the  statistics  and  tech- 
nology of  the  mineral  industries  of  this  state. 

Sec.  5.  It  is  hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  owner,  lessor,  lessee,  agent,  manager 
or  other  person  in  charge  of  each  and  every  mine,  of  whatever  kind  or  character, 
within  the  state,  to  forward  to  the  state  mineralogist,  upon  his  request,  at  his  office 
not  later  than  the  thirtieth  day  of  June,  in  each  year,  a  detailed  report  upon  forms 
which  will  be  furnished  showing  the  character  of  the  mine,  the  number  of  men  then 
employed,  the  method  of  working  such  mine  and  the  general  condition  thereof,  the 
total  mineral  production  for  the  past  year,  and  such  owner,  lessor,  lessee,  agent, 
manager  or  other  person  in  charge  of  any  mine  within  the  state  must  furnish 
whatever  information  relative  to  such  mine  as  the  state  mineralogist  may  from 
time  to  time  require  for  the  proper  discharge  of  his  official  duties.  Any  owner, 
lessor,  lessee,  agent,  manager  or  other  person  in  charge  of  each  and  every  mine,  of 
whatever  kind  or  character  within  the  state,  who  fails  to  comply  with  the  above 
provisions  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor.* 

Sec.  6.  The  state  mineralogist  now  performing  the  duties  of  the  office  of  state 
mineralogist  shall  perform  the  duties  of  the  office  of  state  mineralogist  as  in  this 
act  provided  until  the  appointment  and  qualification  of  his  successor  as  in  this  act 
provided. 

Sec.  7.  The  said  state  mineralogist  shall  take  possession,  charge  and  control  of 
the  offices  now  occupied  and  used  by  the  board  of  trustees  and  state  mineralogist 
and  the  museum,  library  and  laboratory  of  the  mining  bureau  located  in  San  Fran- 
cisco as  provided  for  by  a  certain  act  of  the  legislature  approved  March  23,  1S9.S, 
niul  horeaflor  referred  to  in  section  fourteen  hereof,  and  shall  maintain  such  offices, 
museum,  library  and  laboratory  for  the  purposes  provided  in  this  act. 

Sec.  8.  Said  state  mineralogist  or  qualified  assistant  shall  have  full  power  and 
authority  at  any  time  to  enter  or  examine  any  and  all  mines,  quarries,  wells,  mills, 
reduction  works,  refining  works  and  other  mineral  properties  or  working  plants  in 
this  state  in  order  to  gather  data  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  act. 

Sec.  9.  The  state  mineralogist  shall  make  a  biennial  report  to  the  governor  on 
or  before  the  fifteenth  day  of  September  next  preceding  the  regular  session  of  the 
legislature. 

Sec  10.  All  moneys  received  by  the  state  mining  bureau  or  any  officer  thereof 
(except  such  as  may  be  paid  to  thera  by  the  state  for  disbursement)  shall  be 
receipted  for  by  the  state  mineralogist  or  other  officer  authorized  by  him  to  act  in 
his  place  and  at  least  once  a  month  accounted  for  by  him  to  the  state  controller  and 
paid  into  the  state  treasury  to  the  credit  of  a  fund  which  is  hereby  created  and 
designated  "state  mining  bureau  fund."  All  moneys  now  in  the  possession  of  the 
state  mining  bureau  or  any  officer  thereof  received  from  any  source  whatsoever, 
shall  be  immediately  paid  over  to  the  state  mineralogist  and  by  him  accounted  for 
to  the  controller  and  paid  into  the  state  treasury  to  the  credit  of  said  fund.  Said 
fund  shall  be  used  and  is  hereby  appropriated  for  the  use  of  said  bureau  in  carrying 
out  the  purposes  of  this  act. 

Sec.  11.  The  said  state  mineralogist  is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to 
receive  on  behalf  of  this  state,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  state  mining  bureau, 
gifts,  bequests,  devices  and  legacies  of  real  or  other  property  and  to  use  the  same  in 
accordance  with  the  wishes  of  the  donors,  and  if  no  instructions  are  given  by  said 
donoi-s,  to  manage,  use,  and  dispose  of  the  gifts  and  bequests  and  legacies  for  the 
best  interests  of  said  state  mining  bureau  and  in  such  manner  as  he  may  deem  proper. 

•Sec.  19  of  the  Penal  Code  of  California  provides:  "Except  in  cases  where  a  differ- 
ent punishment  is  prescribed  by  this  code,  every  offense  declared  to  be  a  misde- 
meanor is  punishable  by  imprisonment  in  a  county  jail  not  exceeding  six  months,  or 
by  a  fine  not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars,  or  by  both." 


150  MINERAL   INDUSTRY    OF    CALIFORNIA. 

Sec.  12.  The  slate  mineralogist  may,  whenever  he  deems  it  advisable,  prepare  a 
special  collection  of  oi-es  and  minerals  of  California  to  be  sent  to  or  used  at  any 
world's  fair  or  exposition  in  order  to  display  the  mineral  wealth  of  the  state. 

Sec.  13.  The  state  mineralogist  is  hereby  empowered  to  fi.x  a  price  upon  and  to 
dispose  of  to  the  public,  at  such  price,  any  and  all  publications  of  the  state  mining 
bureau,  including  reports,  bulletins,  maps,  registers  or  other  publications,  such  price 
shall  approximate  the  cost  of  publication  and  distribution.  Any  and  all  sums 
derived  from  such  disposition,  or  from  gifts  or  bequests  made,  as  hereinbefore  pro- 
vided must  be  accounted  for  by  said  state  mineralogist  and  turned  over  to  the 
state  treasurer  to  be  credited  to  the  mining  bureau  fund  as  provided  for  in  section 
ten.  He  is  also  empoweTed  to  furnish  without  cost  to  public  libraries  the  publications 
of  the  bureau,  and  to  exchange  publications  with  other  geological  surveys  and 
scientific  societies,  etc. 

Sec.  14.  The  stale  mineralogist  provided  for  by  this  act  shall  be  the  successor 
in  interest  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  and  the  state 
mineralogist,  under  and  by  virtue  of  that  certain  act,  entitled  "An  act  to  provide 
for  the  establishment,  maintenance,  and  support  of  a  bureau,  to  be  known  as  the 
state  mining  bureau,  and  for  the  appointment  and  duties  of  a  board  of  trustees,  to 
lip  known  as  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  who  shall  have  the 
direction,  management,  and  control  of  said  state  mining  bureau,  and  to  provide  for 
the  appointment,  duties,  and  compensation  of  a  state  mineralogist,  who  shall  perform 
the  duties  of  his  office  under  the  control,  direction  and  supervision  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,"  approved  March  23,  1S93,  and  all  books, 
papers,  documents,  personal  property,  records,  and  property  of  every  kind  and 
description  obtained  or  possessed,  or  held  or  controlled  by  the  said  board  of  trustees 
of  the  said  state  mining  bureau,  and  the  state  mineralogist,  and  the  clerks  and 
employees  thereof,  under  the  provisions  of  said  act  of  March  23,  1893,  or  any  act 
supplemental  thereto  or  amendatory  thereof,  shall  immediately  be  turned  over  and 
delivered  to  the  said  state  mineralogist  herein  provided  for,  who  shall  have  charge 
and  control  thereof. 

Sec.  15.  That  certain  act  entitled  "An  act  to  provide  for  the  establishment, 
maintenance,  and  support  of  a  bureau,  to  be  known  as  the  state  mining  bureau,  and 
for  the  appointment  and  duties  of  a  board  of  trustees,  to  be  known  as  the  board 
of  trustees  of  the  state  mining  bureau,  and  to  provide  for  the  appointment,  duties 
and  compensation  of  a  state  mineralogist,  who  shall  perform  the  duties  of  his  office 
under  the  control,  direction,  and  supervision  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  state 
raining  bureau,"  approved  March  23,  1893,  together  with  all  acts  amendatory 
thereof  and  supplemental  thereto  and  all  acts  in  conflict  herewith  are  hereby 
repealed. 


APPENDIX. 


151 


PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE  CALIFORNIA  STATE  MINING 

BUREAU. 

Publication.s  of  thus  Bureau  will  lie  sent  ou  receipt  of  the  riMiuisito  amount.     Only 
stamps,  coin  oi-  nutney  orflers  will  be  accepted  in  payment. 

Money  orfiers  shoulrl   be  macle  payable   to  the   State  Mining   Burkao. 
Personal  checks  will  not  be  accepted. 

REPORTS. 
Asterisk  (*)   indicates  the  publication  is  out  of  print. 
•Report         I.     Henrv  G.  Hanks.     1880. 
•Report        ir.     Henrv  G.  Hanks.     1882. 
•Report      ni.     Henry  G.  Hanks.     1883. 
•Report      IV.     Henry  G.  Hanks.     1884. 
•Report        V.     Henrv  G.  Hanks.     1885. 
•Report      VI.     Part  1.     Henry  G.   Hanks.     1886. 
•Report      VI.     Part  2.      Wm,   Irelan.   Jr.      1886. 
•Report    VII.     Wm.   Irelan,  Jr.     1887. 
•Report  VIII.     ^\^m.   Irelan,   Jr.      188S. 
•Report      IX.     Wm.   Irelan,   Jr.     1889. 
•Report        X.     AVm.  Irelan,  Jr.     1890.  Price 

Report      XI.     Wm.   Irelan.   Jr.     1892.     CFirst  biennial) $1.00 

•Report    XII.     J.    J.    Crawford.     1894.     (Second   biennial) 

•Report  XIII.     J.    J.    Crawford.    1896.     (Third    biennial) 

Chapters   of    State    Mineralogist's   Report,    Biennial    period,    1913-1914,    Fletcher 
Hamilton: 
Mines  and  Mineral  Resources  of  Imperial  and  San  Diego  Counties — F,  J.  H. 

Merrill.     1914     .3S 

Mines  and   Mineral  Resources,   Amador,   Calaveras  and   Tuolumne  Counties — 

W.   B.   Tucker.     1915   .50 

Mines    and    Mineral    Resources.    Colusa.    Glenn.    Lake,    Marin,    Napa.    Solano, 

Sonoma  and   Yolo  Counties — Walter  W.   Bradley.     1915 .50 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Del  Norte,   Humboldt  and  Mendocino  Counties 

— F.    L.    Lowell.     1915 .25 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources.  Fresno,  Kern,  Kings,   Madera,  Mariposa,  Mer- 
ced,    San    Joaciuin    and    Stanislaus    Counties — Walter    W.    Bradley,    G.    C. 

Brown,    P.   L.    Lowell  and   R.    P.   McLaughlin,    1915 .50 

Mines  and  Minei"al  Resources,   Shasta.   Siskivou  and  Trinity  Counties — G,  C. 

Brown.      1915    .50 

Report  XrV.     Fletcher  Hamilton,   1915,   Biennial  period   1913-1914.     (The  above 

county  chapters  combined  in  a  single  volume) 2.00 

Chapters   of   State   Mineralogist's    Report,    Biennial    Period,    1915-1916,    Fletcher 
Hamilton: 
Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Alpine,  Inyo  and  Mono  Counties,  with  geological 
map — .Arthur   S.    Eakle,    Emile   Huguenin,   R.   P.   McLaughlin,    Clarence   A. 

Waring.      1917    1.25 

Same   as  above,    witliout  geological    map .65 

Mines    and    Mineral    Resources.    Butte,    Lassen.    Modoc,    Sutter    and    Tehama 

Counties — W.   Burling  Tucker,   Clarence  A.  Waring.     1917 .50 

Mines    and    Mineral    Resources.    El    Dorado,    Placer,    Sacramento    and    Tuba 

Counties — W.    Burling   Tucker,    Clarence   A.   Waring.     1917 .65 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources.  I.,os  Angeles,  Orange  and  Riverside  Counties — 

Frederick   J.    H.    Merrill.     1917 .50 

Mines  and  Mineral  Resources,  Monterey,  San  Benito,  San  Luis  Obispo,  Santa 
Barbara  and  Ventura  Counties — Walter  W.  Bradley,  Emile  Huguenin,  C.  A. 

Logan,    Clarence    A.   Waring.     1917 .65 

Mines   and    Mineral   Resources,    San    Bernardino   and    Tulare    Counties — H.    C. 

Cloudman.   Emile  Huguenin,  F.  J.   H.  Merrill,  W.  Burling  Tucker.     1917 .65 

Report  XV.      Fletcher  Hamilton,  1918,   Biennial  period,   1915-1916.      (The  above 

county  chapters  combined  in  a  single  volume) (In  press) 

BULLETINS. 

•Bulletin     1.     Dessicated   Human   Remains. — Winslow   Anderson.     1888 

•Bulletin     2.     Methods  of  Mine  Timbering.— W.    H.    Storms.      1894 

•Bulletin     3.     Gas  and  Petroleum  Yielding  Formations  of  the  Central  Valley  of 

California.— W.   L.  Watts.      1894 

•Bulletin     4.     Catalogue    of    California    Fossils    (Parts    2,    3,    4    and    5). — J,    G. 

Cooper.      1894    

•Bulletin    5.     The   Cvanide  Process:   Its  Practical  Application  and  Economical 

Results— A.    Scheidel.      1894    

Bulletin     6.     California   Gold   Mill  Practices.— E.   B.   Preston,     1895 $0.50 

•Bulletin     7.     Mineral   Production    of   California,    by   Counties,    1894. — Chas.    G. 

Tale.      (Tabulated    sheet) 

•Bulletin     8.     Mineral   Production   of   California,    by   Counties,    1895. — Chas.    G. 

Yale.       (Tabulated    sheet) - 

•Bulletin     9.     Jline  Drainage,   Pumps,   etc. — Hans  C.  Behr.     1S96 

•Bulletin  10.     A    Bibliography    Relating    to    the    Geology,     Palaeontology,    and 

Mineral    Resources    of    California. — A.    W.    Vogdes.     1896 

•Bulletin  11.     Oil  and   Gas   Tielding   Formations   of   Los   Angeles,   Ventura  and 

Santa   Barbara   Counties.— W.   L.   Watts.     1896 

•Bulletin   12.     Mineral   Production   of   California,    by   Counties.    1896. — Chas,   G. 

Tale.      (Tabulated    sheet) 


152 


MINERAL   INDUSTRY   OP    CALIFORNIA. 


PUBLICATIONS    OF    THE    CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU— Continued. 
Asterisk  (•)   Indicates  the  Dublioatlon  is  out  of  print.  Price. 

•Bulletin  13.     Mineral    rroduction    of   California,    by    Counties,    1897. — Chas.    G. 

Yale.       (Tabulated    sheet) 

•Bulletin  14.     Mineral   Production   of   California,   by   Counties,    1898. — Chas.   G. 

Bulletin   15.     Map  of  Oil  City  Oil  Fields,  F'resno  County.— 57  HrMeanillllllll    IIII 
•Bulletin   16.     The   Genesis   of   Petroleum   and   Asphaltum    in    California. — A.    S. 

Cooper.     1899 

•Bulletin   17.     Mineral   Production   of   California,   by   Counties,    1899. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated  sheet)  

•Bulletin   18.     The  Mother  Lode  Region  of  California. — W.  H.  Storms,  1900 

•Bulletin  19.     Oil  and  Gas   Yielding  Formations  of   California. — W.   L.   Watts. 

1900 

•Bulletin  20.     Synopsis    of    General    Report    of    State    Mining    Bureau. — W.    L. 

Watts.     1900 

•Bulletin  21.     Mineral   Production   of   California,   by   Counties,    1900. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated   sheet)    — 

•Bulletin  22.     Mineral   Production  of  California  for  Fourteen  Years. — Chas.  G. 

Yale.      1900.      (Tabulated    sheet)     ;--    

Bulletin.         Reconnaissance  of  the  Colorado  Desert  Mining  District. — Stephen 

Bowers.     1901 

Bulletin  23.     The  Copper  Resources  of  California. — P.  C.  DuBols,  F.  M.  Ander- 
son. J.  H.  Tibbits.  and  G.  A.  Tweedy.      1902 $0.50 

•Bulletin  24.     The  Saline  Deposits  of  California. — G.   E.   Bailey.     1902 

•Bulletin  25.     Mineral    Production   of   California,   by   Counties,    1901. — Chas.    G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated    sheet)    

•Bulletin  26.     Mineral   Production   of   California   for    Fifteen   Years. — Chas.    G. 

Yale.     1901.      (Tabulated  sheet) 

•Bulletin  27.     The   Quicltsllver   Resources   of   California. — Wm.    Forstner.     1903    

•Bulletin  28.     Mineral    Production    of   California,    by    Counties,    1902. — Chas.    G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated   sheet)    

•Bulletin  29.     Mineral    Production   of   California   for   Sixteen   Years.— Chas.   G. 

Yale.     1902.     (Tabulated  sheet) 

♦Bulletin  30.     A  Bibliography  of  Geology,  Palaeontology,  and  Mineral  Resources 

of  California. — A.  W.   Vogdes.      1903    

•Bulletin  31.     Chemical  Analyses  of  California  Petroleum. — H.  N.  Cooper.     1903. 

(Tabulated  sheet)   ^    

Bulletin  32.     Production  and  Use  of  Petroleum  in  California. — P.  W.  Prutzman. 

1904 .25 

•Bulletin  33.     Mineral   Production   of   California,   by   Counties,    1903. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated    sheet)    

•Bulletin  34.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Seventeen  Years. — Chas.  G. 

Yale.     1903.     (Tabulated  sheet) 

•Bulletin  35.      Mines  and  Minerals  of  California  for  1903. — Chas.  G.  Yale.      1904. 

(Statistical)    

•Bulletin  36.     Gold  Dredging  in  California. — J.  E.  Doolittle.     1905 

Bulletin  37.     Gems,  Jewelers'  Materials,  and  Ornamental  Stones  of  California. 
— George  F.  Kunz.      1905: 

First  edition   (without  colored  plates) .25 

•Second  edition   (with  colored  plates) 

•Bulletin   38.     The    Structural    and    Industrial    Materials    of    California. — Wm. 

Forstner,    T.    C.    Hopkins,    C.    Naramore,   L.    H.    Eddy.      1906_.    

•Bulletin  39.     Mineral   Production   of   California,   by   Counties,    1904. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      (Tabulated   sheet)    

•Bulletin  40.     Mineral   Production  of  California  tor  Eighteen  Years. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      1904.       (Tabulated    sheet)    

•Bulletin  41.     Mines    and    Minerals    of    California,    for    1904 — Chas.    G.    Yale 

(Statistical)    

•Bulletin  42.     Mineral    Production   of  California,   by   Counties,    1905. — Chas.   G. 

Yale       (Tabulated   sheet)    — - — 

•Bulletin  43.     Mineral   Production  of  California  for  l^ineteen  Years. — Chas.  G. 

Y?le.      1905.      (Tabulated   sheet)    

•Bulletin  44.     Mines    and    Minerals    of   California,    tor    1905. — Chas.    G.    Yale. 

(Statistical)    

•Bulletin   45.      Auriferous  Black  Sands  of  California. — J.  A.  Edman.      1907 

Bulletin  46.     General  Index  to  Publications  of  the  State  Mining  Bureau. — Com- 
piled bv  Chas.  G.  Yale.      1907 .30 

•Bulletin   47.      Mineral    Production    of   California,    by    Counties,    1906. — Chas.    G. 

Yale       f Tftbula tfid    sliGct)    —         —         —       — — — _—__-_—_————-—    __ __ 

•Bulletin  48.     Mineral   Production   of   California  for   Twenty   Years. — Chas.   G. 

Yale.      1906.      (Tabulated   sheet)    

•Bulletin  49.     Mines    and    Minerals    of    California,    for    1906.— Chas.    G.    Yale. 

(Statistical)    

Bulletin  50.     The   Copper  Resources   of   California. — -A.    Hausmann,   J.    Krutt- 

schnitt,   Jr.,  W.   E.   Thorne,  J.   A.   Edman.     1908 1.00 

•Bulletin  51.     Mineral    Production    of    California,    by    Counties.    1907. — D.    H. 

Walker.      (Tabulated    sheet)     • 

•Bulletin  52.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-one  Years. — D.  H. 

Walker.      1907.      (Tabulated    sheet)     

•Bulletin  53.     Mineral   Production   of  California  for   1907,   with   County   Maps — 

D.     H.     Walker.      1908.      (Statistical) 

•Bulletin  54.     Mineral    Production    of    California,    by    Counties,    1908. — D.    H. 

Walker.      (Tabulated    sheet)    

•Bulletin  55.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-two  Years. — D.  H. 

W^alker.     1908.      ' '•"'ibulated    sheet)     


APPENDIX. 


153 


PUBLICATIONS    OF    THE    CALIFORNIA    STATE    MINING    BUREAU— Continued. 
Asterisk  <*)  Indicates  the  publication  is  out  of  print.  Price. 

•Bulletin   56.     Mineral    Production    for    1908,    County    Maps,    and    Mining    Laws 

of  California. — D.   H.   Wallcer.      ia09.      (Statistical) 

•Bulletin  57.     Gold    Dredging    in    California. — W.    B.    Winston,    Cliarles   Janin. 

1910 

•Bulletin  58.     Mineral    Production    of    California,    by    Counties,     1909. — D.    H. 

Wall<er.      (Tabulated    slieet)    

•Bulletin   59.     Mineral  Production  of  California  for  Twenty-three  Years. — D.  H. 

Walker.      1909.      (Tabulated  sheet)    

•Bulletin   60.     Mineral    Production    for    1909,    County   Maps,    and    Mining   Laws 

of  California. — D.H.Walker.     1910.     (Statistical) 

•Bulletin  61.     Mineral   Production    of   California,    by   Counties,    tor   1910. — D.    H. 

Walker.      (Tabulated    sheet)     

•Bulletin  62.     Mineral   Production  of   California   for  Twenty-four  Tears. — D.   H. 

Walker.     1910.      (Tabulated   sheet)    

Bulletin  63.     Petroleum   in   Southern   California. — P.   W.    Prutzman.      1912 $0.75 

♦Bulletin   64.     Mineral  Production  for   1911. — E.   S.   Boalich,  Statistician,   1912—     

Bulletin   65,     Mineral   Production   for   1912. — E.    S.    Boalich,    1913 

•Bulletin   66.      Mining  Laws,  United   States  and   California,    1914 

Bulletin  67.     Minerals    of    California.— .4.    S.    Eakle,    1914 

•Bulletin   6S.     Mineral   Production   for  1913. — E.    S.    Boalich.    1914 

Bulletin   69.     Petroleum  Industry  of  California,  with  Folio  of  Maps  (18x22  in.) 

— R.   P.  McLaughlin  and  C.  A.  Waring,   1914 2.00 

•Bulletin  70.     Mineral    Production    for    1914,    with    Mining   Law   Appendix.     1915    

•Bulletin  71.     California  Mineral  Production  for  1915,  with  Mining  Law  Appen- 
dix and  Maps. — Walter  W.  Bradley,  1916 

Bulletin  72.     Geologic    Formations    of    California. — James    Perin    Smith.      1917 

(For  Map,   see   below) .25 

•Bulletin  73.      Report   of  Operations   of   Department  of  Petroleum  and   Gas  for    

1915-1916. — R.    P.    McLaughlin.       1917 

Bulletin   74.     California    Mineral    Production    for    1916,    with    County    Maps.. — 

Walter   W.    Bradley.     1917 

Bulletin   7."..     Mining  Laws,   United    States  and  California.    1917 : 

Bulletin  76.     Manganese    and    Ciironiium    in    California. — Waltei-    W.    Bradley, 
Emile    Huguenin.    C.    A.    Logan,    W.    Burling    Tucker,    C.    A. 

Waring,   191S    (In   Pre.ss)t 

Bulletin   77.     Catalogue    of    the    Publications    of    the    California    State    Mining 

Bureau,    lSSO-1917. — E.    S.    Boalich.    1918 

Bulletin  "S.      Quicksilver   Resources   of  California. — Walter  W.   Bradley,    191SJ:     

Bulletin  79.      Magnesite    in    California.      (In    preparation) 

Bulletin  SO.     Tungsten.   Molybdenum  and  Vanadium  in  California.      (In  prep- 
aration)        

Bulletin   82.      Second    Annual    Report    of    the    State    Oil    and    Gas    Supervisor, 

1916-1917. — R.    P.    McLaughlin.      1918 

Bulletin   83.     California    Mineral    Production    for    1917,    with    County    Maps. — 

Walter  W.   Bradley.      1918 

Preliminary    Reports. 
•Preliminary  Report  No.  1.     Notes    on    Damage    by    Water    in    California    Oil 

Fields,    Dec,   1913.     By   R.    P.    McLaughlin 

•Preliminary  Report    No.    2.      Notes    on    Damage    by    Water    in    California    Oil 

Fields,    Mar..    1914.     By    R.    P.    McLaughlin 

•Preliminary  Report  No.  3.     Manganese  and  Cliromium,  1917.  By  E.  S.  Boalich     

Preliminary  Report  No.   3.     Manganese    and     Chromium.     By    E.     S.     Boalich. 

(Second    edition)    

Preliminary  Report   No.   4.     Tungsten.    Molybdenum  and   Vanadium,    1918.     By 

E.  S.   Boalich  and  W.   O.  Castello 

Preliminary    Report    No.    5.     Antimony,    Graphite,    Nickel.    Potash,    Strontium, 

Tin,  1918.     By  E.  S.  Boalich  and  W.  O.  Castello 

Registers  of   Mines  with    Maps. 

Amador  County   $.25 

Butte   County   .25 

•Calaveras   County   

•El  Dorado  County 

•Inyo   County    

•Kern  County 

Lake  County .25 

Mariposa  Coimty   .25 

•Nevada    County    

•Placer  County 

•Plumas    County    

•San   Bernardino  County 

•San  Diego  County 

Santa  Barbara  County .25 

•Shasta   County   

•Sierra  County 

•Siskiyou  County 

•Trinity  County   

•Tuolumne  County 

Yuba   County    .25 

Register  of  Oil  Wells  (with  map),  Los  Angeles  City .35 

tWrite   for   price-list. 


154  MJNKEAL   INDUSTRY    OP    CALIFORNIA. 

OTHER   MAPS. 

•California,  Sliowiiig  Mineral  Deposits   (50x60  in.) —  Price 

Mounted     J  1.50 

Forest   Reserves  in  California — 

Mounted    .50 

Unmounted    .30 

•Mineral  and  Relief  Map  of  California 

151  Dorado  County.  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20 

Madera  County,   Showing  IJoundaries   of  National   Forests .20 

Placer  County.   Showing  Bounflarles  of  National   Forests .20 

Shasta   County.    Showing   Boundaries   of   National    Forests .20 

Sierra    County,    Showing    Boundaries    of    National    Forests .20 

Siskiyou  County.  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20 

Trinity  County,   Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .4S 

TuoUimne  County,  Showing  Boundaries  of  National  Forests .20 

•Mother    Lode    Region    

Desert    Region    of    Southern    California    .10 

Minaret    Region,    Madera    County .20 

Copper  Deposits  in   California .05 

Calaveras    County    .25 

Plum.as    County r .25 

Tuolumne     County     .25 

Geological  Map  of  California    (mounted) — 50x60  inches 2.50 

DETERMINATION  OF  MINERAL  SAMPLES. 
Samples  (limited  to  three  at  one  time)  of  any  mineral  found  in  the  state  may  be 
sent  to  the  Bureau  for  identification,  and  the  same  will  be  classified  free  of  charge. 
No  samples  will  be  determined  if  received  from  points  outside  the  state.  It  must  be 
uiiilersl(!od  that  no  ussay.s  or  (juantitative  delerminalions  will  be  made.  Samples 
should  be  in  lump  form  if  possible,  and  marked  plainly  with  name  of  sender  on  out- 
side of  package,  etc.  No  samples  will  be  received  unless  delivoi-y  charges  are  prepaid. 
A  letter  should  accompany  sample,  giving  locality  wIicim'  mineral  was  found  .and  tlic 
nature  of   the  iiiform.ation  desired. 


AlTKNI'lV. 


1  55 


Area  ol  California,  1 53,650  sq.  miles 

**      10  olher  States,   153.130  sq.  miles 


Outline  map  of  California,   showing  relative  areas  of  ten  other  states. 


'ITii'  fullowin^;  ooiinty  niajis  sliow  nil  towns,  post  offifes,  riiilroiids,  slagp  lines,  ami 
the  highways.  They  are  especially  valuable  to  all  who  wish  to  leave  the  railroad 
and  penetrate  to  the  interior  of  the  mining  districts  of  the  state.  These  maps  must 
not  be  reproduced  without  obtaining  permission  from  the  Mining  Bureau. 


ir,fi 


MINKRAIj    industry    of    CALIFORNIA. 


RELIEF  MAP  OF 

CALIFORNl 

Issued  by  the 

CAllfORNIA  STATE   MINING  Bl 


FLETCHER  HAMILTON 

State   Mineralogist 


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STATE 


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Scale  of  mi/es. 


STATE   Mining    Bureau -1916 


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INDEX. 


Page 
Alameda    County    .115 

Map    of    165 

.\lpine    County    116 

Map    of    164 

-\luminum     28 

-Amador    County    116 

Map    of 164 

.\ntimonv    28 

Total   production 2<l 

.Appendi.K    148-175 

.\sbestos    84 

Classes  and  characteristics 85 

Total    production    86 

-Asplialt     55 

Barytes     86 

Total    production    87 

Beach   stones    (gems) 92 

Benitoite     92 

Beryl      92 

Bismuth    29 

Bituminous    rock    56 

Total    production    56 

Bloodstone    92 

Borax    107-108 

Production,    1887-1917    108 

Brick      56-58 

Production  of  various  kinds 57 

Total   production,    1893-1917 58 

BuiliHn,e:  stone.      (Sec  Granite,  Marble, 
Sandstone,   etc, ) 

Bulletins,  list   of 151-153 

Burma,  production  of  tungsten  in 51 

Butte    County    117 

Map    of    160 

Cadmiimi    30 

Ca'averas  County 117 

Map   of    164 

California,    map    of,    showing   relative 

areas  of  ten  other  states 155 

California,    relief  map  of 136 

Camp    Meeker   chrome   mine 60 

Cement    58-59 

Total    production    59 

Chart  of  metal  prices 27 

Showing  oil  production  data 17 

Silver    prices    48 

Chromite     60-64 

Concentration    of    62 

Prices    of    63 

Total    production    64 

Clay — pottery    87-88 

Production    1887-1917    88 

Products   --      88 

Coal    13 

Colusa    County    118 

Map   of   161 

Concrete,    rock   for 80 

Contra    Costa    County 118 

Map   of   163 

Copper     30-31 

Production    1887-1917    31 

Counties,  mineral  production  of 

12,    114-14  7 

Crushed  rock 80.  82 

Curbing  65 

Del    Norte    County 119 

Map   of 157 

Determination    of  mineral   samples 154 

Diamonds      92 

Diatomaceous  earth 95 

Doiomite 89 

El   Dorado  County 120 

M.an  o""' 162 

Feldspar    90 

Total  production 90 

Ferro-chrome   by   electric  furnace 63 

Ferro-manganese  by  electric  furnace-     37 

12—40563 


Pace 

Fire-cla.y     87 

Fluorspar 91 

Fresno    County    120 

Map   of 157 

Fuels   13-25 

Fuller's   earth    91 

Total    production 91 

Furnaces  for  calcining  magnesite 68 

Gas.      (See  Natural  Gas.) 

Gasoline  from  natural  gas 16 

Gems 92 

Total  production 93 

Glass  sand    103 

Glenn    County    121 

Map   of   161 

Gold     32-35 

Percentage    yield    of.    by    lodes    and 
placers     33 

Total  production 34-35 

Granite    64-66 

Production,    1887-1917    67 

Graphite    93-94 

Gravel   79 

Grinding  mill  pebbles 78 

Gypsum     94 

Total    production    95 

Humboldt  County 122 

Map   of   159 

Hyacinth 92 

Hydrocarbons    13 

Imperial  County 122 

Map   of   175 

Industrial  materials 83-106 

Infusorial    e<arth    95 

Total  production 96 

Inyo    County    123 

Map   of 169 

Iridium    41 

Iron  ore 35-'<fi 

Total  production 36 

Jewelers'  materials.      {See  Gems.) 

Kern   County 124 

Map   of   170 

Kings   County    124 

Map   of   168 

Kunzite     92 

Lake  County 125 

Map   of    161 

Lassen  County T'n 

Map   of   158  , 

Lassen    Peak   140 

Lead     • 36 

Production,  1887-1917 37 

Lime    67 

Limestone     97 

Total     value     lime     and     limestone, 

1887-1917    98 

Lithia 9S 

Los    Angeles   County 126 

Map   of    173 

Macad.am    80 

Madera  County 126 

Map   of    166 

Magnesite 67-72 

Furnaces  for   calcining 68 

Loading  bunkers  at   Ingomar 70 

Mines  operating,  1917 69—70 

Producing    districts    69—70 

Production    by    counties 72 

Production,    1887-1917    72 

Uses  of 7T 

Values  of 71 

Magnesium    salts    108 

Manganese    37-39 

Prices    of    38 

Total    production    39 

Maps,  list  of,  of  various  counties 153-154 


178 


INDEX. 


Page 
Marble     72-73 

Produotion,   1887-1»17 73 

Marin   Countv    127 

Map    of    163 

Matipijsa    County    127 

Map   ot    166 

Menilcxino  Countv   128 

Map    of    161 

Merrcd  County 12S 

Map    ot    166 

Metals 26-53 

Chart  of  prices  of 27 

Mica'    99 

Mineral    industry,    review   of 9 

Output.    1917    (tabulation) 11 

Output    by    counties 12,  114-147 

Output,     comparative    value,     1916- 

1917    11 

Paint    99 

Mineral    Saniplos,  determination  of l.')4 

Water    100 

Production.   1887-1917 101 

Mining   Bureau   Act 148-150 

Miscellaneous  stone 76-82 

Modoc  County 129 

Map    of    158 

M  jlybdenuui     40 

Mono  County 129 

Map    of   169 

Monterey   County   i:iO 

Map   of   171 

Monumental    stone   65 

Moulding   sand    79 

Museum  of  State  Mining  Bureau 

Frontispiece 

Napa  County 130 

Map   of   163 

Natural  gas 14-17 

Gasoline  from 16 

Production.  1888-1917 15 

Nevada  County 131 

Map   of    162 

Nickel    •»" 

Nitrates     109 

Oil.      (See  Petroleum.) 

Onyx    " 

Orange  County   i^' 

Map   of   1'3 

Osmium jj 

Palladium ^1 

Paving  blocks J^ 

Pebbles  for  giinding  mills ^    i8 

Petroleum ^''~^t 

Average  price  by  county,  1914-191 1      18 
Chart  showing  production  data  of —     17 

Dividends  frorri ^   23 

Financial    tables 22-24 

OpemtiiiK  costs  by  fields 24 

Prices    hv    ticlds 1» 

Proiluction.   1S75-1917 19 

Production  and  value  by  counties-.      18 

Production  by  fields 20 

Production  of  light  and  heavy  grav- 

iti(is    "^ 

Statistics  of  well  operations 20.  21.  24 

Phosphates l^.l 

Placer  Chrome  Company  mill 62 

Placer  County Ij- 

Map   of 1«2 

Platinum     ,i 

From  blister  copper 4i 

Production.   1887-1917 " 

Flumas  County Jj- 

.    Map   of   1«0 

?CtSl}f"l-::::::::::::::::::::::i59-iii 

Total  production  of 57   so 

Pottery  clays ,r 

Proved  oil  land -^ 

Publications  of   State  Minmg  Bureau 
151—154 

Pumice l"! 


Page 
Pyrite    102 

Total    production    102 

Quartz 103 

Quicksilver 43-47 

Concentration  of 46 

Duty    on    44 

Prices 44 

Production  by  counties 46 

Total  production 47 

ITses  ot 45 

Rhodonite     92 

Riprap     80 

Riverside   County    133 

Map   of    175 

Rubble     80 

Sacramento   County   134 

Map   of   164 

Salines    107-113 

Salt    111-112 

Production,   1887-1917 112 

Samples,  determination  of 154 

San    Benito    County 134 

Map   of    i    IJl 

San    Bernardino   County     135 

Map   of    174 

San    Diego   County 135 

Map    of   175 

San    Francisco    County 136 

Map    of    163 

San  Joaquin  County 136 

Map   of    164 

San   Luis   Obispo  County 137 

Map    of   172 

San  Mateo  County 137 

Map   of    165 

Sand,  glass 103 

Sand  and  gravel 79 

Sandstone 74 

Production.  1887-1917 74 

Santa  Barbara  County 138 

Map   of    172 

Santa  Cruz  Countv ]  "i 

Map   of   165 

Santa  Cruz  Countv 139 

Map   of   165 

Scheelite   51 

Serpentine    74-75 

Shasta  County 140 

Map    of   159 

Sierra  County ! '..1  141 

Map   of   160 

Silica 103 

Total  production 104 

Silver     4  7-50 

Chart  showing  prices  of 48 

Percentage     yield     of.     by     classes 
ores    49 

Production.  1887-1917 50 

Siskiyou   County   141 

Map   of 167 

Slate    75-76 

Production,   1889-1917 76 

Soapstone      104 

Total  production 105 

Soda     113 

Total  production  of 113 

Solano  County 142 

Map   of    163 

Sonoma  County 142 

Map   of   163 

Spelter.      (See   Zinc.) 

Stanislaus    County    143 

Map    of    166 

State  Highway  Bridge  at  Dunsmuir..      59 
State  Mineralogist's  Reports,  list  of_-   151 

Mining  Bureau  publications.  list_  15 1-154 
Stone,    miscellaneous    76-82 

Production  by  counties 82 

Production    by  years 82 

Stoneware     88 

Strontium   105 

Structural '  materials 54-82 

Sulphur     liifi 


INDEX. 


179 


Page 

Sutter  Countv 144 

Map   of 162 

Talc   104 

Tehama  County 144 

Map    of 15!) 

Terra  cotta 87 

Tile    56 

Tin   --_    50 

Topaz    92 

Tourmaline     92 

Travertine 73 

Trinity   County 144 

Map   of. 159 

Tube    mill    pebbles 78 

Tulare  County 145 

Map   of   1«8 


Page 
Tungsten     50-5  ■; 

Total  production 5J 

Tuolumne  County 146 

Map   ot    164 

Vanadium 52 

Ventura    County    146 

Map   of   173 

Volcanic   ash   101 

Witherite     S6 

Wolframite     51 

Yolo    County    147 

Map    of    163 

Yuba  County 147 

Map   of    162 

Zinc    53 

Total  production 53 


<0563    8-18    5M 


to 


p 


3  117E 


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